CALIFORNIA, Md. — An investigation is underway after sheriff's deputies shot a car theft suspect in California, Maryland on Monday night, the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office said.
At 9:32 p.m., deputies responded to the California Wawa for a reported stolen vehicle in the 23400 block of Three Notch Road.
Deputies located the stolen vehicle in the area of the shopping center, and saw a man matching their suspect description. The alleged suspect ran when he saw police, who said they chased after the man and tased him multiple times, with no effect.
Police then say the man tried to carjack someone outside a restaurant in the Wildewood shopping center, but the car owner got away before he was successful. The man continued running and then got in another running car before one deputy fired his weapon three times.
The officers gave the man first aid until he was taken by helicopter to an area trauma center for treatment. He remains hospitalized in critical condition. The man has not yet been identified by police.
No deputies were injured.
The deputy involved in the shooting was placed on administrative leave, per policy, while the case remains under investigation. Per Maryland law, the state's attorney general was contacted but declined to investigate further.