Suspect Shot After Reportedly Attacking Officers with Baseball Bat
LAKE ELSINORE – After reportedly breaking several car windows and attempting to break into a home, a suspect attempted to attack police and was shot and killed at the scene.
Reports of a male suspect breaking numerous car windows on Friday, April 15 about 7:00 PM drew an officer from the Lake Elsinore Police Department to the scene on the 100 block of South Poe Street.
The officer was able to locate the man witnesses had described within the 300 block of West Heald Street. The suspect had reportedly used a piece of wood to break several windows and a sliding glass door to a residence. The suspect then tried to force entry into the home.
When the occupants of the home attempted to stop the suspect from entering, one of the victims was struck and injured by the suspect with the piece of wood.
According to Deputy Michael Vasquez, the officer contacted the suspect and pleaded with him to surrender, but he refused. The officer them employed pepper spray which did not stop the man. At this point, “The suspect, armed himself with two baseball bats, and advanced toward the officer and an officer involved shooting occurred,” stated Vasquez
The officer called paramedics to the scene, but the suspect was pronounced deceased upon their arrival. According to the Riverside Coroner’s office, the suspect was Clemente Najera, 38 of Lake Elsinore. The Riverside Sheriff’s Department noted that no officers or additional members of the public were injured during the incident.
The Lake Elsinore Police Department encourages anyone with information regarding the incident to contact Central Homicide Investigator Paz at (951) 955-2777 or Investigator Cornett at (951) 245-3300.
