A woman from Colorado was shot and killed by police after a high speed chase in California.
Police said Kelsey Rose Hauser, 25, of Conifer, was one of the passengers in a stolen car that El Cajon [California] officers tried to stop Saturday at 1:30 a.m.
The driver briefly stopped, but took off again. The driver got on Interstate 8 at speeds of up to 90 miles per hour, according to El Cajon police.
Police and California Highway Patrol officers followed the car as it exited the freeway, drove on some side streets until they ended up in a cul-de-sac. The driver made a U-turn at the end of the street and briefly stopped again.
He then sped toward an officer getting out of his patrol car, which prompted the lawman to fire at least four rounds, El Cajon police Lt. Frank La Haye said. The driver rammed two police cars, but was forced to stop because the Toyota was undrivable, he said.
Investigating officers found Hauser and a dog mortally wounded inside the car. Hauser was rushed to a hospital, but died from her wounds.
La Haye said it was believed that Hauser and the driver, Geoffrey Sims, were fugitives and had warrants out for their arrest.
Sims and two backseat passengers were arrested.
No officers were injured.
Criminal past
Our partners at KGTV-TV in San Diego obtained court documents from two different jurisdictions in Colorado, and the documents show Hauser was a no-show several times in Jefferson County court in connection with a drug possession charge. A felony warrant was issued for her arrest.
Sims was charged with burglary in Jefferson County. He also had a drug possession charge in Denver. Both jurisdictions have felony warrants for his arrest.
A spokesman for Hauser's parents asked that they be allowed to grieve their daughter privately.
---------
Sign up for Denver7 email alerts to stay informed about breaking news and daily headlines.