Vehicle thief shoots, bails, breaks into home

During the pursuit, the driver shot at officers with a handgun multiple times. The officers continued to pursue at a safe distance. Eventually, the suspect drove into a dead end in the area of 38th Avenue and Wallace Avenue, at which point he fled on foot still armed with a firearm.

Officers established a large perimeter in the area. As this incident developed, community members contacted the police department and were able to provide information that was pivotal to locating the suspect within the perimeter. Officers from the Sacramento Police Department SWAT, Crisis Negotiation, and Unmanned Aerial Systems teams responded to the incident, as well as officers and additional safety equipment from surrounding outside agencies.

While officers were on the perimeter, the suspect attempted to break into two residences in the area. He ultimately shot the sliding glass window of one house and gained entry. Thankfully, the homeowner of that residence, fearing for his safety, immediately fled and was uninjured. He was safely escorted away from the home by officers. He reported that his wife and children had just left the house and there was no one else inside. Nearby residents were evacuated or asked to shelter in place. The suspect remained inside the home and continued to shoot at officers who had surrounded the residence.

Because of the safety the armored vehicle provided, SWAT officers and crisis negotiators were able to establish contact with the suspect. Eventually, the suspect exited the residence and was safely detained. During the investigation, two firearms possessed by the suspect were recovered at the scene. The suspect, identified as 20-year-old Ismael Herrera-Mondello, was arrested for multiple felony charges including attempted murder on officers, burglary, possession of a loaded firearm, stolen vehicle, and pursuit-related charges.

No officers or community members were injured during this incident. Herrera-Mondello sustained minor injuries while breaking into the residence. The department has since received reports of homes that appeared to have been struck from the suspect’s gunfire during the vehicle pursuit. Anybody that may have information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact the Sacramento Police Department dispatch center at (916) 808-5471.

“This incident highlights how a common police contact can escalate into a life-threatening situation for our officers and community. I’m thankful we have members of our department who bravely serve our community under such dangerous circumstances. I’m also grateful for the technology, training, and equipment that were available to our officers that allowed for the best possible outcome for all involved,” said Sacramento Police Chief Daniel Hahn. “I’m thankful for the outside agencies that responded to assist our department. Working together, we were able to resolve this potentially deadly incident.”