Fresno, California (FPD) — On Saturday, March 4, at 4:55 p.m., officers from the Fresno Police Department attempted a traffic stop at Fresno Street and Shaw Avenue on a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The driver of the vehicle, 29-year-old Robert Corchado, was recognized as an individual with several outstanding felony warrants, including one for felony evading. Corchado failed to yield to the officers and sped towards Highway 41. The officers initiated a pursuit but discontinued the pursuit when Corchado drove the wrong way onto the Highway 41 ramp. Corchado was subsequently located by a Fresno Police Department air unit and was observed driving at a high rate of speed, failing to stop at several intersections and nearly causing a traffic collision with another motorist.
As a result, a sergeant determined that Corchado posed a danger to the public and requested officers to re-initiate the pursuit and authorized a PIT (Pursuit Immobilization Technique) maneuver if Corchado did not yield. When Corchado did not yield a PIT maneuver was performed disabling Corchado’s vehicle. Before officers could exit their patrol car, Corchado fired multiple rounds from a handgun toward the officers and both officers returned fire. In the exchange of gunfire one of the rounds fired by Corchado struck an officer in the chest. The round was stopped by the officer’s ballistic vest. Corchado, who had just repeatedly fired at officers and was potentially armed, began running towards a nearby occupied vehicle that had pulled to the side of the road.
Officers gave Corchado commands to stop as he neared the uninvolved motorist’s car, but he did not comply. An officer fired his weapon, striking Corchado. Additional officers arrived on scene and took Corchado into custody. The officers provided medical aid, including CPR. Corchado was pronounced deceased on scene by paramedics. It was later learned Corchado discarded his 9mm handgun near his vehicle after the exchange of gunfire with officers. There was one live round in the chamber, and the magazine was empty. Shell casings from the handgun that Corchado fired at officers were located inside of his vehicle. In addition, a .22 caliber rifle was located between the driver and passenger seats of Corchado’s vehicle. Detectives located three rounds fired by Corchado that struck the officer’s patrol car.
