3 people arrested, one dead after deputy involved shooting near Pixley

TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (FOX26) — UPDATE: TCSO has identified 4 suspects who were in the vehicle, which was a black Ford Mustang.

The police tried to stop the car because it was going over 100 miles per hour without its headlights on.

The driver didn’t stop immediately, but eventually pulled into the driveway of a nearby house.

Deputies removed 3 of the 4 suspects from the car without incident after observing alcohol and open containers in the car.

The three passengers removed from the car by TCSO were Kameron Compton, 18, Alexander Fernandez, 21, and Christian Ochoa, 18, all of Pixley.

The fourth suspect, 28-year-old Gustavo Benitez of Pixley, was sitting in the back seat and refused to get out of the car.

TCSO says Benitez also refused to show his hands to deputies and eventually pulled out a gun and fired at the deputies.

Deputies returned fire and shot Benitez.

Benitez was treated for his injuries at the scene of the shooting.

He was then taken to a local hospital, where he died.

Officers found two guns in the vehicle along with evidence that Benitez fired a shot.

Compton and Fernandez were arrested and booked on charges of conspiracy, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm.

Ochoa was arrested for conspiracy and aggravated assault.

The MPs concerned have been placed on paid administrative leave

One person was shot by officers during a traffic stop Wednesday evening in Tulare County.

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office says deputies stopped a suspicious vehicle at 800 Road 120 in Pixley at 10:45 p.m.

During a road check, a shooting occurred and the suspect was shot dead.

None of the deputies were injured.

Tulare police took over the investigation.