Holly MatkinSan Bernardino County, CA – A 15-year-old girl at the center of an Amber Alert was fatally shot after her father – a wanted murder suspect – got into a gunfight with police during a high-speed chase on Tuesday morning.
Police said 45-year-old Anthony John Graziano murdered his estranged wife, 45-year-old Tracy Martinez, during a domestic disturbance in Fontana on Sept. 26, KTLA reported.
Family members later told police that the couple was going through a divorce, KTTV reported.
After allegedly killing Martinez, Anthony Graziano kidnapped their 15-year-old daughter, Savannah Graziano, according to investigators.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) issued an Amber Alert for Savannah Graziano shortly after her abduction on Monday.
A resident contacted police at approximately 10:25 a.m. on Tuesday and reported seeing a 2017 Nissan Frontier in Barstow that matched the description of the vehicle noted in the Amber Alert, KTLA reported.
https://twitter.com/CHPAlerts/status/1574830592444624896?s=20&t=qC9yXrVg9sNPTaFssje1SA
The CHP located the vehicle at approximately 11:15 a.m. and tried to stop the driver, triggering a pursuit down the 15 Freeway, according to KNBC.
Police said Anthony Graziano began shooting at the pursuing law enforcement officers through his back window.
They described the gunfire as “constant,” KNBC reported.
“A pursuit ensued, and as a result of that pursuit, the suspect immediately starts firing at our deputies, putting several rounds through the windshield of the patrol unit,” San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, according to People. “The suspect [was] firing back at our deputies the entire time.”
The suspect vehicle ultimately veered off the roadway near the Main Street exit and came to a stop, at which point the gunman opened fire on police yet again, KTLA reported.
During the ensuing gunbattle, a passenger dressed in a helmet and tactical gear jumped out of the suspect vehicle and began running towards the officers, Sheriff Dicus said.
The passenger was struck by gunfire during the shootout and collapsed to the ground, he said.
After the gunfire stopped, investigators cleared the suspect vehicle and found Anthony Graziano dead in the driver’s seat, KTTV reported.
They then realized that the person wearing the helmet and tactical gear was Savannah Graziano, Sheriff Dicus said.
The teen was rushed to a local hospital, where she succumbed to her wounds, KTLA reported.
The sheriff said it is unclear if Savannah Graziano participated in the gunfight.
“There may be some information that the passenger was involved in firing back at the deputies and we’re still trying to confirm that at this point,” he said, according to KABC.
He said just one rifle was recovered at the scene, KTLA reported.
Sheriff Dicus said one deputy was wounded by shrapnel during the gunbattle, according to KTTV.
Police shut down the 15 Freeway between Joshua Road and Bear Valley Road in the wake of the incident, KNBC reported.
The northbound side of the roadway was reopened at approximately 1 p.m.
Both sides of Main Street were shut down between Mariposa Road and Key Pointe Drive, KNBC reported.
Police said Martinez was gunned down near Cypress Elementary School in Fontana, sparking panic among the children and parents who were in the area, according to KABC.
“The man just came down the street shooting. He started shooting in that direction,” resident Andy Davis told the news outlet. “Hit those trees, houses across the street. They say the bullets were skipping off the street, and the woman was trying to run for her life, and unfortunately, she was hit. Once she was hit, I guess he shot at her a few more times.”
The school was put on lockdown after the shooting, People reported.
