California sheriff's deputy shot dead during traffic stop; suspect killed after chase, shootout

A Southern California sheriff’s deputy was shot and killed Thursday during a traffic stop by a suspect with a violent criminal history who later died after a freeway chase and a shootout.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco identified the deputy as Isaiah Cordero, 32, who joined the department in 2014, during a press conference Thursday night. Cordero pulled over William Shae McKay, 44, just before 2 p.m. in Jurupa Valley, about 50 miles east of Los Angeles.

"As he approached the vehicle, the suspect produced the gun and shot Deputy Cordero," Bianco said. "A community member who witnessed the shooting called 911. Our department, along with some allied agencies, responded immediately."

Trump tax returns: Release spans nearly 6,000 pages across dozens of files: live updates

Your New Year's Eve weather forecast: Much milder for many, but it's going to be a wet one

McKay was found in San Bernardino County, Bianco said, and officers then chased him on Interstate 15 and State Route 60. McKay's back tires were eventually damaged by a spike strip and his truck's axle failed, Bianco said, sending the vehicle sideways off the 15.

"The suspect fired rounds at the deputies," Bianco said. "At that point, deputies returned fire and the suspect was killed."

Earlier, Cordero was taken to Riverside Community Hospital and pronounced dead. Bianco said he is survived by his parents, stepbrother, girlfriend and other friends and family.

"I want to extend my sincere condolences to Deputy Cordero's loved ones," Bianco said. "Nothing is more heartbreaking than losing a son in a senseless manner when they are living their life for others, serving their community."

Cordero was hired as a correctional deputy and worked in three different county jails. He became a sworn patrol deputy in February 2018 and transferred to the Jurupa Valley station in 2020.

He had just become a motorcycle officer. He completed training for the role in September, Bianco said, adding, "His goal from the day he was hired was to become a motor deputy."

A long procession of police cruisers and motorcycles accompanied the hearse carrying Cordero's body from Riverside Community Hospital to the sheriff's coroner's office in Perris early Thursday evening.

According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, the number of federal state, tribal, and local law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty numbered 129, as of June 30, 2022 (the most recent number available). That's a decline of 31% from the 188 killed during the same period last year; a reduction in the number of COVID-19-related deaths is largely responsible for the decline, according to the organization.

Bianco said McKay had an extensive criminal history dating back to before 2000, with convictions for kidnapping, assaults and other crimes. He said McKay had recently been convicted of his third strike, a series of felony convictions that typically result in a person being sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Bianco said the San Bernardino County judge overseeing his case did not sentence McKay immediately and lowered his bail, allowing him to be released. McKay did not appear for a related sentencing hearing, Bianco said. And McKay was allowed to be released after another subsequent arrest.

"This terrible tragedy should have been prevented by the legal system," Bianco said.

McKay's was convicted of felony false imprisonment, evading a police officer, and making criminal threats in November, San Bernardino County court records show.

But full details of his cases were not available Thursday night as court offices were closed.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: California sheriff's deputy shot dead; suspect killed after chase