Police identify Fremont officer who shot, injured carjacking suspect

Lina Portman2 weeks ago

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FREMONT – Authorities on Wednesday identified a police officer who fatally shot a carjacking suspect over the weekend in Fremont.

Jonathan Laforteza joined the Fremont Police Department nearly a year ago and has two years of law enforcement experience, the police department said in a news release.

The suspect, identified as a 31-year-old Fremont man, is in stable condition, police said.

The shooting followed a carjacking around 9 a.m. Sunday in the parking lot of a store in the 44000 block of Osgood Road. Police said the suspect was armed with a knife and left the scene before officers arrived.

A short time later, an officer found a person matching the description of the suspect walking on Auto Mall Parkway, just west of Osgood Road. He was always armed.

When told to stop, the suspect brandished the knife at the officer and “advanced toward him,” according to police.

“Despite numerous orders to stop and the officer repositioning to create space and distance, the suspect continued to advance toward the officer while holding the knife,” police said.

The officer opened fire, hitting the suspect once. The suspect was then transported to an area hospital.

The police department's crimes against persons unit is investigating the incident.

Cases involving criminal charges against the suspect will be presented to the Alameda County District Attorney's Office in the coming days, according to police.

Anyone who witnessed the shooting or has information related to the case can contact Detective Michael Gebhardt at 510-790-6900 or [email protected].

Check back for updates.

Read more at The Mercury News