Highway 101 NB lanes closed after fatal officer-involved shooting

SAN MATEO (KTVU) -- The northbound lanes of Highway 101 in San Mateo near Highway 92 remained closed Friday night after a fatal officer-involved shooting occurred during the evening rush hour commute.

San Mateo Police Department Capt. Dave Norris said a suspect was shot and killed during an incident that involved three California Highway Patrol officers who were confronted by an armed suspect on the shoulder of Highway 101 around 5:30 p.m.

A yellow tarp covering what was believed to be a body on the freeway was visible in aerial footage from the scene. The suspect, whose identity was pending, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police closed all northbound lanes of the 101 and the westbound lanes leading to the northbound 101 were closed. Vehicles were forced to exit the 101 freeway onto Hillsdale Boulevard while authorities investigated the incident.

San Mateo police are assisting in taking vehicles off the highway between Hillsdale and state Highway 92, CHP officials said.

The incident was first reported as a traffic collision involving two vehicles at 5:28 p.m. on northbound Highway 101 near state Highway 92, CHP officials said. A suspect then allegedly got out of a vehicle and began shooting. 

Norris said the three CHP officers were confronted by an armed suspect when they arrived on the scene. All three officers fired their weapons, killing the armed man, authorities said.

None of the officers were hurt during the incident.

The incident was initially reported as a traffic collision involving two vehicles on the highway, CHP officials said.

As of 11 p.m. Friday night, the northbound lanes of Highway 101 remained closed with yellow police tape across the lanes and a large flood light illuminating the scene. Police said investigators were still taking measurements of evidence.

Following protocol in officer-involved shootings, three agencies are involved independently in the investigation of the incident, police said.

Inspectors with the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office will investigate the legality of the officers' actions. San Mateo police will investigate the alleged criminal aspects of the suspect. The CHP will also conduct an administrative investigation of the officers' actions, according to police.

KTVU reporter Jana Katsuyama and Bay City News contributed to this report.