Police: 1 dead in Danville officer-involved shooting

Image 1 of 2

Authorities are investigating a deadly officer-involved shooting that occurred in a busy stretch of Danville's downtown area Saturday morning after a driver led police on a chase, officials said.

Police say they received a report of a suspicious person near Cottage Lane and Laurel Drive just after 11 a.m. 

The driver reportedly fled when he saw officers. Police said the suspect attempted to run over an officer at the intersection of Front Street and Diablo Road. The officer fired his weapon at the vehicle and the suspect was shot.

"I heard the gunshots very clearly and then I heard the sirens, so I knew something serious had happened," said Danville resident Holly Baugh.

The suspect was transported to a local hospital where he died.

Investigators were working with drones to trace the path of the chase and survey the crime scene. Residents of this quiet East Bay town are shocked. "We've never seen things like that before," a resident added. "It's very safe here."

A Safewise report recently named Danville the safest city in the state. "It's shocking. I just moved here in July and it's a very quiet, peaceful, wonderful place to live," said Baugh. 

Police have not identified the suspect.

The county officer-involved protocol has been invoked. This incident is being jointly investigated by the Danville Police Department, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff, and D.A.'s Office.