Brea Police Officer Involved in Fatal Shooting of Suspected DUI Driver

BREA, Calif., Nov. 29 (KNN) — A Brea police officer fatally shot a suspected drunk driver during an incident involving an apparent threat late Thursday afternoon.

The incident unfolded at approximately 4:42 p.m. when Brea Police Department officers were notified of a possible DUI driver in the area of Lambert Road and the 57 Freeway. Officers responded and located a vehicle matching the description up against a retaining wall in the westbound lanes of Lambert, east of the 57 Freeway, according to the Brea PD press release.

According to sources, once officers made contact, the suspected DUI driver collided with a Brea PD patrol unit, prompting an officer-involved shooting. The details surrounding the shooting remain unclear at this time.

The driver of the vehicle was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased by medical staff, stated the press release.

A KNN video from the scene shows an apparent shattered window of the suspect’s vehicle. The crash and shooting appeared to have occurred at the end of an off-ramp. The California Highway Patrol closed the off-ramp on the northbound 57 Freeway to the Lambert Road exit. Detectives arrived at the scene and took over the investigation.

Per department policy, the Orange County District Attorney’s office also responded to the scene to initiate an investigation into the circumstances of the officer-involved shooting.

Randy Dominguez, Video Journalist / KNN