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Uploaded: Wednesday, September 5, 2012, 12:00 PM
Authorities identify gunman killed after shooting CHP officer on I-680
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Authorities this morning identified a man who shot and critically wounded a California Highway Patrol officer on Interstate Highway 680 near Alamo on Tuesday as 36-year-old Christopher Boone Lacy.
Lacy, a resident of Corning, Calif., was fatally shot by a second CHP officer after he shot Officer Kenyon Youngstrom during a traffic stop on southbound I-680 near the Livorna Road exit on Tuesday morning.
Contra Costa County sheriff's spokesman Jimmy Lee said at a news conference in Martinez Wednesday morning that shortly before the shooting, Youngstrom was responding to a report of a dead deer along the highway.
He had pulled over to the road's shoulder around 8:30 a.m. when his partner, who was nearby in another patrol car, informed him that he was making a traffic stop on a green Jeep Wrangler with an obstructed license plate, Lee said.
The Jeep stopped near Youngstrom's patrol car, and Youngstrom approached the driver, Lacy, as his partner pulled over, Lee said.
Youngstrom had a brief conversation with the driver.
"Then, without any warning, Lacy pulled out a gun and shot Officer Youngstrom in the head," Lee said.
As Youngstrom fell to the ground, the second officer saw what was happening and begin firing at Lacy, hitting him and critically wounding him, Lee said.
Youngstrom and Lacy were both taken to John Muir Medical Center, where Lacy died. Youngstrom was still in critical condition this morning.
Inside the Jeep, detectives found a loaded semi-automatic handgun, two loaded magazines and a knife, Lee said.
He said an autopsy on Lacy this morning showed the cause of death as a gunshot wound to the head.
Lee said Lacy has one prior arrest in 2006 in Marin County for driving under the influence, but does not have any other criminal record.
By Tuesday afternoon, Youngstrom's extended family had gathered at John Muir Medical Center. Youngstrom is a seven-year veteran of the CHP's Contra Costa-area office.— Bay City News Service Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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Posted by William, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Sep 6, 2012 at 7:36 am Another senseless killing done by someone with under treated or very poorly treated mental illness. Chris Lacy was known to suffer from mental illness and probably paranoid schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Who knows what he was thinking when he shot and killed the defenseless Highway Patrol Officer. Our mental health system is in tatters and the competency level is terrible for those charged with treating these people. These mentally ill folk are left with little follow-up and wander our streets and neighborhoods with delusional thinking and poor impulse control just waiting to snap. Well another one snapped.
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Posted by Myra, a resident of the Walnut Creek neighborhood, on Sep 6, 2012 at 9:55 am No worries---under obamacare the mentally ill will be disposed of right after the seniors are refused medical services.
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Posted by Julia, a resident of the Alamo neighborhood, on Sep 6, 2012 at 10:14 am Yes this is terrible situation and it became even more terrible.
The officer was taken off life support.
What a terrible waste.
Julia Pardini from Alamo
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Posted by Janet, a resident of another community, on Sep 6, 2012 at 12:41 pm May God bless Kenyon and embrace him into His kingdom. And may God give solace to his family in their time of great saddness.
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Posted by bz, a resident of the Blackhawk neighborhood, on Sep 6, 2012 at 2:15 pm This is just heartbreaking! Prayers for the family of Officer Youngstrom- may they find that "peace that passes understanding!"
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Posted by jrm, a member of the Vista Grande Elementary School community, on Sep 6, 2012 at 3:35 pm So many fine words of support and sympathy from my fellow citizens, I would only add that I am grateful for all the CHP does each and everyday to make our roads safer and in the process save lives and crippling injuries. We have all had narrow misses as reckless drivers careen down our freeways and the CHP officers put their lives on the line each and every day as they monitor and patrol our crowded freeways. This tragedy has given me a new understanding and respect for their challenges and riaks met daily.
My prayers go out to those family members on both sides of this senseless tragedy.
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Posted by jrm, a member of the Vista Grande Elementary School community, on Sep 6, 2012 at 3:38 pm Correction...my closing should read "risks met daily"
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