Placer County Sheriff’s Office Press Release:

“The Placer County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred around 3 a.m. today near North Lake Tahoe.

At around 1:40 a.m., CHP officers attempted to pull over a suspected DUI driver, who was driving dangerously and erratically on Highway 28. The pursuit was terminated a few minutes later for safety reasons. CHP issued an alert, and at 2:45 a.m., a deputy saw the car on Highway 28, near Dollar Hill, again driving erratically, and attempted to pull him over. The male driver failed to yield, and a pursuit began.

Spike strips were successfully deployed by CHP officers, and the car stopped on Highway 89, between Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. The driver exited the car, holding his female passenger hostage, at gunpoint, and walked away. He pointed his gun at deputies and at passing vehicles. He walked up a residential driveway with deputies and CHP officers behind him, attempting to negotiate with him. Fearing for the safety and lives of the hostage and the people inside the home where he was headed, deputies shot the suspect. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The female, as well as all deputies and CHP officers, were uninjured.

Highway 89 will remain closed between Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows for a significant time while the investigation is conducted.