Coroner Cannot Yet Determine Cause Of Death For Alleged Police Shooter
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – The Sacramento County Coroner's office has not yet been able to determine the cause of death of a shooting suspect who allegedly shot and critically wounded a Twin Rivers police officer after a pursuit.
The coroner, who has not released the man's name but police identified as 32-year-old Tyrone Smith, said Smith's cause of death is pending further medical and toxicology studies. The coroner's office also says its preliminary findings reveal the absence of trauma.
Smith was taken into custody near the scene of a shooting that nearly killed a 25-year-old rookie officer Saturday afternoon, and witnesses said the suspect appeared to be unharmed and alert at the time.
Sacramento Police officers were transporting him to police headquarters on Freeport Boulevard just after 11:30 p.m. when they noticed the handcuffed suspect was lying face down and was unresponsive.
The officers pulled over into the parking lot of a Jimboy's Tacos near the intersection of Franklin Boulevard and Fruitridge Road and attempted to revive Smith while calling for medical help, but the man was soon pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Smith allegedly shot the officer at least four times and then fled the scene, evading authorities for hours as multiple police agencies joined the massive search for the culprit.
Acting Sacramento Police Chief Dana Matthes said her agency's preliminary investigation doesn't show police action was at fault. Smith was taken to the ground twice during his arrest after he tried to escape, but reasonable force was used, Matthes added.
"At this time we're not sure what the cause of death is," she said. "What we do know is that based on our preliminary investigation we don't believe it's a result of any police action."
Defense attorney Ken Rosenfeld told CBS13 he's concerned the department is investigating its own actions, saying the FBI would be a more appropriate agency.
But former Sacramento County Sheriff John McGinness said the coroner's report will be the key to the investigation.
"This investigation will no doubt be fair, and the investigation is by the book," he said.
Smith's family told CBS13 on Sunday that the suspect suffered from severe asthma most of his life but said they don't believe that's what killed him.
"I just want to know what happened. Something went wrong and that's all I want to know," said Letara Brown, Smith's sister.
About 100 people protested in Del Paso Heights on Sunday, saying Smith was innocent until proven guilty and never had a chance to make it to trial.
The officer who was injured in the shooting is listed in critical but stable condition and is reportedly responsive and joking with family members at the hospital. He is expected to be released early next week at the latest.
