On Saturday night, March 15, California Highway Patrol was notified by dispatch of a collision on Highway 101 northbound in Prunedale, at Ralph Lane. An officer arrived to assess the scene at about 7:07pm, looking for any hazards in the roadway and whether an ambulance might be needed.
The officer discovered a one-car crash into a guardrail. But before a typical scene assessment was conducted, the officer opened fire at the driver, 42-year-old James Frederick Combs of Salinas. Combs died at the scene.
The officer was not injured and has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into the shooting, according to CHP spokesperson Saul Perez. CHP directed additional questions to the Monterey County District Attorney's Office, which is conducting the investigation.
The DA's Office on Monday released Combs' name, and indicated that his family had been notified. They have not yet provided additional details about the confrontation but said Combs was armed with knife with a 4-inch blade at the time. The investigation is ongoing.