Yuma man arrested in Riverside County after officials say he fatally shot man, fled
A man died on June 11 after police say he was shot by another man who later tried to flee to California from Yuma police officers. Yuma police said on Tuesday that the suspect has been taken into custody.
The suspect, identified as Nicholas Berry, 27, was arrested by deputies with the Riverside Sheriff's Department, police said. Police did not say when the suspect was arrested.
Around 8 a.m. on June 11, officers responded to the area of 10th Street and Arizona Avenue after receiving reports of a shooting. Police found a man with several gunshot wounds, said Yuma police spokesperson Sergeant Lori Franklin. The man was identified as Benjamin Pilgrim, 51.
Pilgrim was taken to Yuma Regional Medical Center, where he died, police said.
Police drew a suspect and vehicle description from interviews with witnesses at the scene, police said. About three hours later, police found Berry's vehicle unoccupied near 25th Street and Virginia Drive.
Police found out Berry owned a second vehicle, a white Cadillac, that was found near First Avenue and 16th Street. Police tried to stop the car but they say Berry sped away from officers, Franklin said.
Berry fled toward California and headed west on Interstate 8 as police pursued him, authorities said. California Highway Patrol was notified, police said.
Berry exited the highway at Andrade, past the Colorado River, crossed the overpass and then reentered Interstate 8 on the eastbound lanes at a high speed, Franklin said.
Stop sticks were deployed and the Cadillac struck them about two miles west of the Winterhaven exit, just north of the Arizona-California border at the B&C Colonia in Yuma. The car was propelled off the roadway and rolled several times, police said.
Berry was ejected from the car. He was flown to a California hospital in serious condition, Franklin said. There were no other occupants in the car.
Berry was later released from the hospital and booked into Riverside County Jail, police said in an update on June 20.
Police said Pilgrim and Berry knew each other but did not provide any further information about their relationship. The incident was being investigated and police did not release details about what led to the shooting.
The Yuma Police Department asked anyone with any information to call the Yuma Police Department at 928-783-4421 or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous.
Police said members of the public may receive up to a $1,000 cash reward if the tips they provide lead to an arrest, Franklin said.
Reach breaking news reporter Laura Daniella Sepulveda at laura.sepulveda@gannett.com or on Twitter @lauradaniella_s.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Nicholas Berry held in CA in fatal Yuma shooting of Benjamin Pilgrim
