Officers and deputies paid their respects for Isaiah Cordero, a deputy who was fatally shot on Thursday. Alex Rozier reports for the NBC4 News on Dec. 29, 2022.
A Riverside County Sheriff’s Department deputy was shot and killed Thursday afternoon, after which the shooter led a fast-paced pursuit on area freeways.
The shooting happened near the 3900 block of West Golden Avenue in a residential neighborhood across the street from an elementary school in Jurupa Valley. The circumstances surrounding the gunfire were not immediately clear.
The victim was later identified as 32-year-old Isaiah Cordero, a motor officer with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.
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Police set up a roughly three-block perimeter in an area adjacent to the 60 Freeway.
Officers chased the shooter on area freeways, with video showing a slew of patrol vehicles trailing a pickup truck on one freeway.
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The pursuit came to an end on the 15 Freeway at 5th Street in Norco. Newschopper4 showed the pickup pushed up an embankment by what appeared to be an armored police truck.
The chief of San Bernardino police tweeted a photo of Cordero, saying "Our hearts are heavy and prayers go out for @BiancoSheriff and the @RSO family, at the senseless murder of their motor officer. The men and women of @SanBernardinoPD stand with you."
Sheriff Chad Bianco said Cordero tried to pull over the suspect for a traffic stop when the suspect pulled out a gun and fired at him around 2 p.m. in the 3900 block of Golden West Avenue near Highway 60 and less than a block from Rustic Lane Elementary School.
Bianco said the suspect fired at officers, which prompted them to shoot back. Officers later killed the man identified as William Shae McKay.
A procession was later held in honor of Cordero.
Cordero was hired by the department in May of 2014. He initially worked in jails for the Riverside Sheriff’s Office but his dream was to be a motorcycle deputy, a dream that came true in September.
Outside Community Hospital in Riverside, officers and deputies from several departments paused to pay their respects.
The 20 mile drive from the hospital to the Riverside County Coroners Office showcased a sea of sirens and salutes from fire departments.
A growing memorial is the latest display of gratitude for the deputy killed in the line of duty.
