Man who led police on pursuit into Nevada now a suspect in three murders
Submitted by paula on Sat, 04/27/2019 - 7:36pm
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - The suspect arrested in Douglas County after engaging law enforcement in gunfire after a pursuit Friday night is now the suspect in three Bay Area homicides.
Stefon Jefferson, a 43-year-old man from the San Francisco area, started Friday off by allegedly fatally shooting a man in Oakland at 10:14 a.m., another in San Francisco at 1:27 p.m. and a third in Berkeley at 2:40 p.m.
A BOLO (Be on the Lookout) bulletin was put out by law enforcement and about seven hours after the third murder the suspect's vehicle was spotted by an officer with South Lake Tahoe Police Department in the Heavenly Village area.
He began pursuit after Jefferson failed to pull over and was joined by another officer. The two of them pursued the suspect up Kingsbury Grade and down towards the Carson Valley as the Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) was getting into position.
The suspect vehicle continued without regard for public safety at dangerous speeds over Hwy 207 (Kingsbury Grade) into the Carson Valley, according to a DCSO spokesperson.
The suspect's vehicle crashed near Foothill Boulevard and Douglas County Sheriff’s sergeant was subsequently shot, sustaining a non-life threating injury to his left hand. DCSO fired back, striking Jefferson who then surrendered to authorities without incident and was taken into custody.
Jefferson who sustained superficial wounds and was treated at a local medical facility then booked into the Douglas County Main Jail in Minden, Nevada on charges of Attempted Murder, Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Ex-Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Battery on an Officer, Eluding a Peace Officer along with numerous additional traffic-related offenses.
The sergeant who was shot had surgery on his hand Saturday and was expected to be released this evening. His name is not being released at this time. Upon release, a DCSO police escort would be leading the way.
"The San Francisco Police Department would like to thank the South Lake Tahoe Police Department and the Douglas County Sheriff's Department for their quick and decisive action in apprehending Jefferson," they said in a press release Saturday.
During a press conference on Saturday afternoon, DCSO Sheriff Dan Coverley, along with Undersheriff Ron Elges and District Attorney Mark Jackson, he said the investigation is ongoing and certain facts and details which could affect the outcome of the prosecution would not be discussed at this time.
Sheriff Coverley said he has been in contact with the Oakland Police Department Chief and the San Francisco Police Department Chief regarding this case. Both agencies have expressed their extreme gratitude and appreciation for local law enforcement's assistance in apprehending Jefferson and the agencies will continue to work closely with DCSO on this investigation. Coverly also said each Chief of Police extended their good wishes, thoughts, and prayers to the DCSO sergeant and their family, wishing the sergeant a speedy recovery.
District Attorney Jackson stated Douglas County has first crack at the prosecution since Jefferson is in the county's custody, however, he also needs to confer with the victim(s) and the district attorneys in the Bay Area before any legal decisions are confirmed.
At this time they have not said why they thought Jackson was headed east from the scenes of the crimes to the Sierra and Nevada.
The South Lake Tahoe Police Department has not released the name of the officer responsible for the initial sighting of Jefferson.
This continues to be a developing story.
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