A wild and violent chain of events all came to a deadly end Tuesday as a 15-year-old girl and her father were killed during a gun battle with San Bernardino deputies. The investigation is still unfolding. Hetty Chang reports for NBC4 News on Sept. 27, 2022.
The murder-and-kidnapping suspect in Monday's Amber Alert and a teen girl with him in a pickup are dead after a police pursuit ended with shots fired and a shutdown of the 15 Freeway in Victorville.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said they believe the passenger was the 15-year-old girl and she was wearing tactical gear. When she tried to get out of the car during the shootout, she was struck by gunfire and later died at a hospital.
Sheriff's deputies say official identification of the deceased girl will come from the county coroner later.
The chaos began Tuesday when someone called 911 and reported seeing the suspect and 15-year-old girl at the center of an Amber Alert in a white truck in the area of Barstow.
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The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said the truck matched the description of the 2017 Nissan the suspect was last seen driving.
The California Highway Patrol began chasing the vehicle around 11:15 a.m.
When deputies responded to that call, the man -- 45-year-old Anthony John Graziano -- shot at deputies out the rearview window.
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Officials later said he was shooting "constantly."
The vehicle "became disabled" in Hesperia. No details about why the vehicle stopped working were immediately shared.
A "fire fight" ensued between Graziano and deputies, officials said. Police shot at the truck, and struck Graziano.
During the shootout, Savannah Graziano, wearing tactical gear, got out of the truck and ran toward deputies. She was struck in the fire fight.
Anthony Graziano died, according to the SBCSD, and Savannah was taken to the hospital by San Bernardino County Fire Department first responders. She died at the hospital.
He was also said to being wearing some sort of tactical gear.
The CHP Inland Division said shortly after the pursuit ended that the 15 Freeway was shut down due to police activity.
By 1 p.m. the northbound side of the 15 Freeway had reopened, but had a significant traffic backup, while the southbound side remained completely closed between Bear Valley Road and Joshua Road.
Main Street was also closed in both directions from Mariposa Road to Key Pointe Drive until further notice, according to the SBCSD.
The incident is related to the Amber Alert sent out from Fontana on Monday, after a Savannah was kidnapped by her father during a domestic violence incident.
Anthony Graziano allegedly shot the girl's mother, killing her, near an elementary school on Cypress Avenue and Mallory Drive, authorities said. He then fled the scene with 15-year-old Savannah.
The Amber Alert was deactivated just after 11:30 a.m.
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