Gunfire Erupts in Southern California During Hit-and-Run Probe

A dramatic incident unfolded in southern California when a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run investigation came to a halt, and an exchange of gunfire took place between the passengers and sheriff's deputies. Early Thursday, authorities confirmed that a deputy and the passenger sustained injuries but were in stable condition while receiving medical care.

The situation began when the Riverside County Sheriff's office received a call around 7 p.m. on Wednesday, reporting a felony hit-and-run incident in Palm Desert. In response, sheriff's deputies arrived on the scene and discovered a vehicle with two occupants.

As deputies proceeded to detain the driver, an unexpected turn of events occurred. The vehicle's passenger opened fire at the deputies, prompting at least one deputy to return fire. This exchange resulted in injuries to one deputy and the suspect.

Both the injured deputy and the passenger were taken to the hospital and were reported to be in stable condition on Thursday morning, according to the sheriff's office. Fortunately, the driver of the vehicle remained unharmed but was taken into custody due to an existing outstanding felony warrant.

The names of the individuals involved in the incident, both in the vehicle and the responding deputies, have not been disclosed. The sheriff's office mentioned that the deputies would be placed on paid administrative leave, as per the news release.

The investigation into this incident will be led by officials from the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and the California Highway Patrol. This incident occurred in Palm Desert, a city located in California's Coachella Valley, near Palm Springs.