On Monday, an off-duty officer made a split-second decision on a California freeway that brought a deadly manhunt to a crashing halt.
The officer used his own vehicle to ram a motorcycle fleeing at over 150 mph after the rider allegedly shot and killed San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy Andrew Nunez during a violent domestic call response in Rancho Cucamonga, the Washington Times reported.
Deputy Nunez, just 28 years old, was responding to a report of a man threatening a woman with a firearm inside a home when he was shot in the head shortly after arrival, according to officials.
High-Speed Escape Ends With Officer’s Bold Move
After firing the fatal shot, the suspect fled the scene on a motorcycle and quickly outran multiple law enforcement attempts to stop him on Interstate 210, weaving in and out of traffic along the left shoulder.
State troopers and sheriff’s deputies were unable to contain the chase, as the fugitive pushed speeds north of 150 mph — a number that has no place on any public road, let alone in a chase involving a peace officer’s killer.
But the suspect’s run came to a violent end when an off-duty narcotics officer intervened outside his duty hours, veering into the path of the fleeing motorcycle and ending the threat with a calculated impact.
Suspect Thrown From Bike, Arrested on Highway
The collision launched the suspect from his motorcycle, sending him tumbling across the pavement in full view of pursuing officers and stunned drivers.
Officers swarmed the scene and detained the suspect on the ground, who was then placed on a gurney and seen wearing a neck brace before being airlifted to a hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries.
Authorities say the suspect, whose name has yet to be disclosed, will face murder charges following his release from medical care.
Deputy Nunez Remembered as Devoted Husband and Father
Deputy Nunez had six years of service behind the badge and a growing young family ahead of him — a pregnant wife and a 2-year-old daughter now left behind to navigate life without him.
Governor Gavin Newsom ordered flags at the California State Capitol flown at half-staff in his honor, offering the sort of tribute that can never truly measure the cost borne by the families of the fallen.
“His courage, compassion, and dedication to protecting others reflect the finest traditions of law enforcement,” Newsom said in a statement. “We honor his life and service with gratitude; may his sacrifice never be forgotten.”
Law Enforcement Steps Up, Even Off Duty
San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon D. Dicus later commended the off-duty officer, who brought the chase to an end before more lives were lost. “The pursuit concluded with an off-duty deputy sheriff who put himself on duty and conducted a legal intervention by hitting the suspect on the motorcycle,” Dicus stated.
No committee hearing or city resolution stopped this suspect — only the personal courage of one officer who refused to look away. When leadership crumbles elsewhere, it’s still law enforcement on the ground that puts an end to chaos.
This incident isn’t just a reminder of the daily dangers our deputies face — it’s proof that the thin blue line doesn't punch a time clock. A cop saw a chance to stop a killer, and he took it.
