Newark, California (NPD) — On Thursday, April 13, 2023, officers from the Newark Police Department and Fremont Police Department were involved in an Officer-Involved-Shooting (OIS) in the 39000 block of Cedar Boulevard. The suspect vehicle was initially carjacked on February 14, 2023, at approximately 8:00 a.m. in the 5700 block of Thornton Avenue in Newark. The victim was dropping their child off for school when a suspect approached the vehicle armed with a knife. A teenage victim who was inside the vehicle was forced out at knife point and the suspect fled the scene in the vehicle.
On Thursday, April 13, 2023, at approximately 3:20 p.m. the suspect returned to Newark in the vehicle that was carjacked on February 14, 2023. The suspect and an associate were located with the vehicle at 4:46 p.m. and a high-risk stop was conducted by officers. While attempting to take the suspect into custody, officers observed what appeared to be a firearm in the suspect’s waistband. The suspect ignored officers’ commands, withdrew the perceived firearm, and an OIS occurred.
Officers immediately rendered aid and summoned emergency medical personnel, but the suspect did not survive. The second suspect was transported to a local area hospital and was released shortly after with minor injuries. The firearm was later determined to be a full metal airsoft replica of a Berretta M9 pistol. The suspect was later identified as 19-year-old Elmer Lopez-Castaneda, resident of Newark.
