Homicide suspect dead after chase ends in La Paz County

UPDATE Monday: Mugshot added below.

A vehicle pursuit of two homicide suspects ended in La Paz County, AZ Saturday night after one of the suspects was fatally shot by police.

The incident began after the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office released an ‘attempt to locate’ for two murder suspects possibly headed towards Arizona on Interstate 10. When California authorities located the vehicle, the suspects were traveling eastbound towards Blythe, CA at a high rate of speed and were allegedly shooting at multiple passing motorists.

The pursuit later entered into Ehrenberg, Arizona, where a Quartzsite Police Officer was responding, applying ‘spike strips’ near the Exit 1, I-10 bridge. La Paz County Sheriff’s Department Lieutenant Curt Bagby says the suspects allegedly shot at the officer, who was not injured.

The spike strip eventually caused the suspects’ vehicle to lose control and drive off the roadway near mile post 1.6 on the eastbound side of I-10.

According to Bagby the two suspects then ran from their vehicle and fled into the desert. Officers from the La Paz County Sheriff’s Office, Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, Blythe Police Department, Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Quartzsite Police Department pursued the fleeing suspects on foot into the desert and attempted to take them into custody.

One of the suspects eventually surrendered. The second suspect allegedly refused to comply with law enforcement and brandished a weapon. A deputy from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office opened fire on the suspect, who was fatally wounded and pronounced deceased after lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful.

The surviving suspect in custody

The La Paz County Sheriff’s Office investigative unit is working with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office to investigate the incidents.

The surviving suspect was booked into the La Paz County Detention Facility on several felony charges and will await extradition to California for multiple felonies including homicide.

The suspect who was taken into custody and booked into the La Paz County Detention Facility was identified as Victor Silva out of Greenbrae, CA, north of San Francisco. The name of the deceased suspect is being withheld until the family has been notified.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office is still attempting to identify witnesses or victims of the multiple shootings that occurred during the pursuit along I-10″, Bagby said.”

“If you or someone you know has information that may help law enforcement please call Riverside County Sheriff at (760) 863-8990 or the La Paz County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 669-6141.”