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Procession, Memorial Friday For Fallen San Bernardino Sheriff's Sgt. Dominic Vaca

SAN BERNARDINO (CBSLA) – A procession and memorial service were being held Friday for San Bernardino County Sheriff's Sgt. Dominic Vaca, who was shot and killed in the line of duty last month.

San Bernardino County Deputy Shot, Killed Following Pursuit In Yucca Valley; Suspect Killed
San Bernardino County Sheriff's Sgt. Dominic Vaca was shot and killed by a suspect following a pursuit in Yucca Valley, Calif., on May 31, 2021. (San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department)

The procession for Vaca began before 7 a.m. at the San Bernardino County Coroner's Office.

Vaca's body was transported to the Glen Helen Amphitheatre, where the memorial was being held.

Following the service, a procession will take Vaca's body to the Riverside National Cemetery.

Major delays are expected between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on the southbound 215 Freeway in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The following sections of the freeway will be closed during this hour:

Procession, Memorial Friday For Fallen San Bernardino Sheriff's Sgt. Dominic Vaca
A procession is held for San Bernardino County Sheriff's Sgt. Dominic Vaca on June 11, 2021. Vaca was shot and killed by a suspect following a pursuit in Yucca Valley on May 31, 2021. (CBSLA)
  • Interstate 215 at State Route 210 (SR-210 will be closed for merging traffic onto I-215 Southbound)
  • Interstate 215 at Interstate 10 (I-10 will be closed for merging traffic onto
    I-215 Southbound)
  • Interstate 215 at Interstate 215/State Route 60 – Riverside Interchange (SR-60 eastbound merging onto I-215 southbound and State Route 91 eastbound merging onto I-215 will be closed)

On the afternoon of May 31, the 43-year-old Vaca was wounded when a suspect opened fire in the Yucca Valley desert following a motorcycle pursuit.

Vaca, a 17-year veteran of the department, was airlifted to a nearby hospital where he died. He is survived by his wife and two children.

After Vaca was wounded, his fellow deputies returned fire and killed the suspect, Bilal Winston Shabazz of Lancaster.

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