SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. — New video released by the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office shows the moments when a chase suspect tried to stab a bystander he crashed into before being gunned down by law enforcement.
The sheriff's office says the incident happened Nov. 5. It started as a California Highway Patrol officer trying to do a traffic stop on a car after a traffic violation but it eventually became a chase along Interstate 80.
A deputy with the sheriff's office responded to help the CHP officer, but the chase along the interstate came to a sudden end when the suspect hit a man on a motorcycle near Greenback Lane in Citrus Heights.
Video shows the aftermath of the crash as law enforcement came to a stop near the downed motorcyclist. The sheriff's office says the deputy and officer tried to tell the suspect to stay in his car, but the video shows him appearing to skip toward the downed motorcyclist with a knife.
Law enforcement opened fire on the suspect and he fell to the ground.
“A few seconds later, the suspect got back up onto his feet and lunged at the down civilian with a knife attempting to stab him in the torso. Our deputy fired four more shots toward the suspect. The CHP motor officer fired three rounds and the CHP patrol officer fired one round. The suspect went down,” said Sgt. Amar Gandhi in a video news release.
Gandhi says the suspect was secured by law enforcement while they also tried to help the motorcyclist. Deputies were able to recover a six-inch blade from the suspect.
The person had serious injuries but he ultimately survived. The suspect, however, died after being taken to a hospital. He was identified as Zachary Wolffscott, 36.
The deputy who opened fire is a nine-year veteran of the sheriff's office. The sheriff's office didn't release information on the CHP officer, but said CHP is expected to release that information.
