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Hector Javier Puga

Gender : Male

Age : 32

Race : Latino/a/e

Date : 02/17/2021

Location : Peach Avenue and Catalpa Street

City : Hesperia

County : San Bernardino

State : California

Agency : California Highway Patrol, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department

Officer(s) :Sgt. Isaiah Kee, Bernardo Rubalcava, Michael Blackwood, Sgt. Robert Vaccari, Deputy Jake Adams

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during pursuit

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On February 17, 2021, 32-year-old Hector Javier Puga was killed by police following a pursuit in Hesperia, California. The incident began when California Highway Patrol officers identified Puga's vehicle, a white Ford Expedition, matching the description from a shooting incident the previous evening on Interstate 15. When officers attempted a traffic stop, Puga did not stop. Police escalated a chase involving both CHP and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department deputies. The chase concluded at the intersection of Peach Avenue and Catalpa Street, where Puga's vehicle became disabled. After an hour-long standoff, during which officers fired beanbags, Puga exited the vehicle and was shot by officers after allegedly reaching for a firearm. Three bystanders—a man, a woman, and a 14-year-old boy—were injured by stray bullets during the incident. The San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office later reviewed the shooting and deemed the use of lethal force legally justified.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.vvng.com/pursuit-suspect-dead-3-bystanders-injured-in-officer-involved-shooting-in-hesperia/
https://da.sbcounty.gov/2024/10/04/officer-involved-shooting-fatal-hesperia-puga-h/
https://da.sbcounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/120/2024/10/OIS-Public-Release-Memo-Puga-Hector.pdf