California officer ambushed by gunman wanted for homicide

FRESNO, CA - A police sergeant is recovering from being shot after being ambushed by an armed suspect who was killed in a shoot-out after firing at the officer; that individual, according to authorities, was linked to the homicide of his childhood friend.

ABC News reported that on Saturday, October 26th, the incident unfolded in Fresno after the sergeant and two patrol officers were dispatched around 5:23 p.m. to investigate a ShotSpotter gunshot detection call. During a news conference on Monday, October 28th, Fresno Interim Police Chief Mindy Castro said that the suspect has been identified as 40-year-old Andy Morales.

She described the suspect as a gang member with prior convictions for assault with a deadly weapon and multiple arrests for domestic violence and weapons charges. Castro said that the sergeant, a 21-year veteran of the Fresno Police Department (FPD) and the other officers had spent about an hour searching for evidence of a shooting in the neighborhood east of downtown Fresno when the "ambush" occurred. 

She said that the suspect wielded an AR-style pistol when he drove by and without warning, opened fire on the sergeant who at the time was sitting in a parked patrol vehicle working on his computer. Castro said gunshots from the high-caliber weapon penetrated the sergeant's door, striking him multiple times. The sergeant suffered gunshot wounds to both legs, but had the "presence of mind" to activate his body camera and pursue the suspect.

He was able to return fire, firing off several rounds. After ambushing the sergeant, Morales attempted to flee but his car spun out and he abandoned the vehicle, immediately started firing at the sergeant again. Castro added, "There were 49 seconds of a gun battle between just the suspect Morales and the sergeant."

Two other police officers raced to the scene and opened fire on Castro, who was still shooting at the sergeant. Castro said that Morales was shot at least seven times and taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 

Castro said that during the gunfire exchange, Morales kept repositioning himself, going to the ground, standing up and finding cover while firing numerous shots at the sergeant and the other officers who engaged him. Castro said that after the suspect was shot and fell to the ground, the injured sergeant collapsed and radioed for an ambulance for them both.

After reviewing the body camera footage of the incident, Castro described the sergeant's and the other officers' actions in engaging the suspect as a "picture of courageousness and calm." Police were able to obtain surveillance footage prior to the shooting, which showed the suspect holding a gun as he exited a house near the shooting scene and got into a car matching the on involved in the ambush.

Following the officer-involved shooting, officers went to the house that was in the surveillance footage and forced their way in. Once inside the house officers discovered a homicide victim. Castro said that the ShotSpotter activation that initially drew the sergeant and other officers to the scene was caused by the shooting inside that residence.

The homicide victim has been identified as 43-year-old Mario Ternora of Fresno. Castro said that Ternora died from gunshot and stab wounds. He and Morales had reportedly been friends since their childhood. Castro said, "We really don't know what the conflict was on this particular day that resulted in Mario's murder at the hands of Andy." That investigation remains ongoing.

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, who is also the former FPD chief, described the sergeant's actions as a "heroic act of bravery." He said in a statement, "When you consider the number of rounds that were fired from close proximity and the number of rounds that struck that patrol car and the rounds that ultimately struck this sergeant in both of his legs, we're very very fortunate we're not here today talking about the death of a police officer."

According to ABC30, Castro said that drugs were found near the suspect, leading investigators to believe he could have been under the influence at the time. The investigation will continue as investigators wait for the toxicology report to be completed. 
 
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