Statewide manhunt called off, suspect accused of shooting Merced County deputy arrested
Suspect: Guadalupe Herrera-Lopez, 51 (Merced County Sheriff's Office)
MERCED COUNTY, Calif. (FOX 11) - The California Highway Patrol has deactivated a Blue Alert after a man wanted for shooting a Merced County deputy was located.
The Blue Alert was issued Wednesday and a statewide manhunt was underway for 51-year-old Guadalupe Lopez-Herrera.
Related: Statewide manhunt underway for suspect accused of shooting Merced County deputy
Lopez-Herrera was located Thursday afternoon in Paso Robles. The Merced County Sheriff’s Office says he was arrested after a breif pursuit which began in San Luis Obispo. The 45-mintue pursuit started on Highway 46 and was eventually taken over by CHP on Highway 41 and I-5. Officials say he was driving a stolen GMC Sierra truck.
During the pursuit deputies deployed a spike strip -- disabling the vehicle. Once the vehicle stopped Lopez-Herrera began shooting at officers. A K-9 was sent in and he was taken into custody.
He has been booked into the Merced County Jail.
Sheriff Vern Warnke says they have been investigating Lopez-Herrera since Saturday after receiving reports of him being involved in several domestic violence cases and was on the run.
A warrant for his arrest was issued and on Wednesday deputies with the Merced County Sheriff’s Office went to a home to locate him. Once officers arrived on scene the suspect fired at deputies—hitting one in the leg.
He then fled the area in a truck.
The deputy was struck in the leg and taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.