Grass Valley Police are investigating a series of events which led to a traffic pursuit and subsequent officer involved shooting that left one man dead last evening.
At approximately 7:00pm Thursday evening, Police Dispatch received a 911 call reporting that at least one vehicle was chasing another vehicle near E. Main St and N. Auburn St. In addition, the caller indicated that a gun may be involved. Based on the description of vehicles as provided by the caller, police officers responding quickly located one of the vehicles at E. Main St and E. Bennett St and attempted a traffic stop. When the vehicle failed to yield to emergency lights and siren, a pursuit ensued from E. Bennett St. and Ophir St onto Hwy 174 toward Colfax.

The pursuit, lasting approximately 10 minutes and reaching speeds in excess of 80 mph, ended when the suspect vehicle left Hwy 174 onto a service road leading under the Bear River Bridge in Nevada County where it came to an abrupt stop. Officers engaged the lone occupant of the vehicle at which time shots were fired. The driver of the vehicle was later pronounced dead at the scene. The decedent, whose identity has not yet been confirmed, is described only as a male in his early 60’s. The Nevada County District Attorney’s Office Investigators and the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office are conducting the investigation of the incident. Grass Valley Police personnel involved are currently on paid administrative leave in accordance with departmental policy and procedure. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Grass Valley Police Department at 530.477.4600.