Suspect in custody after exchange of gunfire with Hayward police officers
HAWYARD, Calif. - A suspect was injured in an exchange of gunfire with officers from the Hayward Police Department on Wednesday, police say. Now he's been charged with multiple counts of murder.
What we know:
Police said their preliminary investigation found the suspect, identified as Jaime Mejia Lopez, 40, shot at officers and that the officers returned fire. The suspect's thumb was injured in the process.
The shooting happened in the area of Industrial Parkway and Mission Boulevard.
Police said at 4:12 p.m., they received a witness report of an adult male armed with a gun. Despite the description saying it was a man in his 30s, officers who arrived at the scene, located the suspect, who they said matched the description.
In a statement, Hayward P.D. said officers didn't even have a chance to exit their vehicles before the suspect crouched behind a car and pointed the gun at them. Police initially said the suspect's thumb was grazed, but in their subsequent statement, they said there was an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and officers, but that no one was struck by the gunfire.
The suspect was cleared at a local hospital for his injury. He was arrested and booked into jail.
Dig deeper:
Lopez is an unhoused resident of Hayward, police said. He is charged with three counts of attempted murder and unlawful possession of a firearm.
In addition, police said there is an internal investigation to see if the officers complied with department policies.
The police department has notified the Alameda County District Attorney's office of this shooting investigation.
Police said this is an active and ongoing investigation.
This is the department's first shooting incident of the year that involved its officers.
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