Man Wanted on Murder Warrant Reportedly Commits Suicide During Traffic Stop
Originally published by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office:
“On 12-21-2023 at approximately 1:41 PM personnel from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported critical incident on Highway 101 at Perkins Street in Ukiah, California.
Upon arrival Sheriff’s Office personnel learned officers from the Ukiah Police Department and California Highway Patrol had conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle which was connected to a person wanted for homicide.
During the traffic stop, the driver of the vehicle exited and died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound which was witnessed by officers.
The Mendocino County Officer-Involved Fatal Protocol was initiated due to the attempted apprehension of the driver, the reason for the traffic stop. The California Highway Patrol assumed lead investigative responsibility as outlined by the protocol and the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office assumed coroner’s responsibilities related to the critical incident.
The Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Unit has identified the driver as being Jason Elliot Gillenwater, a 46-year-old male from Pacifica, California. Gillenwater’s identity was not available for public release until the afternoon of 12-22-2023 due to pending next of kin notification.”
