Kings County law enforcement forced to shoot suspect following car chase

The incident occurred on Thursday, April 25 at about 10 p.m. that a Kings County Sheriff’s deputy saw a vehicle that matched the description of a vehicle from an Officer Safety Bulletin from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.

The suspect has been identified as 23-year-old Blayne Erwin Morris from the Coalinga and Watsonville areas of Fresno and San Benito County. The Sheriff's Department learned that the suspect had been on a multi-day crime spree in and around Fresno and San Benito counties and is suspected of stealing at least two trucks, a trailer and multiple pieces of farm and other agriculture-related equipment. Deputies also learned that a rifle had been stolen which law enforcement officials say may have been used to shoot at a property owner who interrupted one of the crimes in San Benito County.

The vehicle was spotted in the area of 19th Avenue and State Route 198 and the sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop the vehicle. Instead, the suspect’s vehicle failed to stop, and the deputy, along with assistance from the Lemoore Police Department, the Avenal Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol ground and air units, began a pursuit.

The pursuit ended near Gayle Avenue and the Avenal Cutoff where the suspect left the vehicle and attempted to run away from the officers.  After about an hour-long ground search, a California Highway Patrol aircraft located the suspect. The suspect, according to law enforcement reports, was located lying in a prone position in a large field, and the aircraft helped guide officers to the suspect. As deputies neared the suspect he ignored orders to show his hands. A K-9 dog was deployed and engaged the suspect with deputies quickly following behind to secure the suspect in handcuffs. As the deputies reached for the suspect's hands, the suspect rolled to his side and pointed his handgun directly towards one of the deputies. Another deputy saw the movement and fired one shot striking the suspect. 

The suspect died on the scene despite live-saving efforts from medical personnel.

Kings County Rural Crimes detectives do not have the suspect, Morris, tied to any specific agriculture-related crimes in Kings County, but are actively working with neighboring agencies to see if the evidence collected at other crime scenes match evidence collected at prior Kings County theft sites. Law enforcement officials continue to investigate the incident.