Two officers, suspect killed in Santa Cruz shootout

 

Two Santa Cruz police detectives and a suspect died Tuesday afternoon after a shootout in the seaside town, according to local media reports.

The violence broke out about 3:30 p.m. when the detectives were conducting an investigation in the 800 block of North Branciforte Avenue, a residential neighborhood near busy Soquel Avenue. A gunman opened fire and struck the two detectives, the Santa Cruz Sentinel reported.

The suspected gunman apparently fled the area and was confronted by officers about 30 minutes later. The suspect died in a second shootout with officers, according to the news report.

"This is a horrific day. We lost two exceptionally fine officers today," Santa Cruz Police Chief Kevin Vogel told the Sentinel. 

It was unclear whether there were additional suspects, but authorities said they were going door to door Tuesday evening as a precaution.

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--From A Times Staff Writer