The murder and kidnapping suspect in Monday’s Amber Alert and the teenage girl died after a police chase ended in gunfire and the closure of Highway 15 in Victorville.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said they believe the passenger was the 15-year-old girl and was wearing tactical gear. When she tried to get out of the car during the shooting, she was hit. She later died in hospital.
Sheriff’s deputies say official identification of the deceased girl will come later from the county coroner.
The chaos began Tuesday when a citizen called 911 and reported seeing the suspect and the 15-year-old girl at the center of an Amber Alert in a white truck in the Barstow area.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said the truck matched the description of the 2017 Nissan the suspect was last seen driving.
The California Highway Patrol began pursuing the vehicle around 11:15 a.m.
When deputies responded to the call, the man – Anthony John Graziano, 45 – shot the deputies through the rear-view mirror window.
Officials later said he was shooting “constantly”.
The vehicle “became unusable” at Hesperia. No details about why the vehicle stopped working were immediately shared.
A “shootout” ensued between Graziano and the deputies, officials said.
The police fired at the truck and hit Graziano.
During the shooting, Savannah Graziano, dressed in tactical gear, got out of the truck and ran towards the deputies. She was hit in the fire.
Anthony Graziano died, according to the SBCSD, and Savannah was taken to the hospital by first responders from the San Bernardino County Fire Department. She died in hospital.
He was also said to be wearing some sort of tactical gear.
The CHP Inland Division said shortly after the chase ended that Highway 15 was closed due to police activity for an unknown length of time.
As of 1 p.m., the north side of Highway 15 had reopened, but had a significant traffic backup, while the south side remained completely closed between Bear Valley Rd and Joshua Rd.
Main Street is also closed in both directions from Mariposa Road to Key Pointe Drive until further notice, according to the SBCSD.
The incident is linked to the Amber Alert sent from Fontana on Monday, after a Savannah was kidnapped by her father in a domestic violence incident.
A man is on the run and accused of kidnapping his daughter, after allegedly shooting and killing the girl’s mother. Annette Arreola reports for Today in LA on Tuesday, September 27, 2022.
Anthony Graziano allegedly shot the girl’s mother, killing her, near an elementary school on Cypress Ave. and Mallory Drive, authorities said. He then fled the scene with 15-year-old Savannah.
The Amber Alert was deactivated just after 11:30 a.m.
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