Southern California deputy shot, killed during traffic stop

A Southern California deputy was shot and killed Thursday afternoon, authorities confirmed, and the suspect was later shot and killed by officers following a police pursuit.  

Just before 2 p.m. local time, a Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy was shot after pulling over a vehicle in the city of Jurupa Valley, according to the sheriff’s department. He later died of his wounds. 

The deputy was identified as 32-year-old Isaiah Cordero, an eight-year veteran of the department, according to Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. 

In an news conference Thursday night, Bianco said that the Cordero was shot as he approached the suspect’s vehicle. Residents tried to help Cordero until officers and paramedics arrived on scene. 

It’s unclear what prompted the traffic stop. 

Following the shooting, the vehicle had been driving, a pickup truck, was spotted in neighboring San Bernardino County, and a high-speed chase ensued involving multiple law enforcement agencies, Bianco said. 

The pursuit traversed several freeways and eventually made its way back into Riverside County. It came to an end when the truck collided with another vehicle, Bianco said, on the 15 Freeway in the city of Norco. 

The suspect shot at officers, and they returned fire, Bianco said. The suspect, identified as 44-year-old William Shae McKay, died at the scene, Bianco disclosed. 

“The suspect was shooting at deputies, which prompted them to shoot back, and he was killed,” Bianco said. 

According to Bianco, McKay had an “extensive criminal history” dating back prior to the year 2000, including convictions for kidnapping, robbery and multiple assaults with a deadly weapon, including the stabbing a California Highway Patrol K-9. 

His most recent conviction was in November 2021 was for kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon, McKay said. 

On Thursday night, the fallen deputy’s body was transported in a procession from a hospital to the Riverside County coroner’s office in the nearby city of Perris. Dozens of deputies lined up outside the hospital to pay their respects. 

Jurupa Valley is located about 50 miles east of Los Angeles.