Suspect Arrested after Firefight with Indio Police
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A robbery suspect is in custody after shooting at police in Indio. Video by kmir6.com
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INDIO--A police shootout leaves one man critically injured and two Indio Police Officers in the line of fire. It happened Thursday morning near Madison and Highway 111 in Indio.
The suspect fired multiple shots at police officers who then returned fire. Witnesses at a neighboring business got the whole thing on camera.
"We heard about 5 or 6 gunshots we saw the police all the commotion all the cars running everywhere," shooting witness Osvaldo Delgado said.
By the time Delgado and a co-worker ran outside the suspect was bleeding heavily on the sidewalk.
"I thought he was dead at first because they said he got shot or something. I thought he was dead for a while," shooting witness Vincent Cardenas said.
The confrontation began when officers tried to make contact with the man allegedly wanted in a string of robberies, but the suspect ran away, pulled a gun, than began firing.
"The officer returned fire immediately striking the suspect," Riverside County Sheriff's Deputy Angel Ramos said. "The suspect has been taken to a local hospital where he's being treated for his injuries."
The suspect is in critical condition, the officers escaped unharmed.
"I think that the suspect, I think it's a tragedy for him," said Palm Desert resident Adam Minini. "It's a waste of a life. He's in critical care I understand and when he gets out he'll probably never see daylight again as far as outside of a prison cell."
The two officers with the Indio Police Department involved in the shooting are on paid administrative leave.
Employees at the auto body shop just across the street are back to work, thankful none of the bullets came their way.
**Update**
The suspect has been released from the hospital. He is still in police custody and undergoing questioning.
--Adrianna Weingold
aweingold@kmir6.com
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