Hughson, California: A\u00a0county sheriff’s deputy was shot twice in the head as he checked on a report of a suspicious vehicle.<\/p>\n
Sheriff Adam Christianson said: \u00a0“We believe that Deputy Dennis Wallace was killed outside of the car, and we know for a fact that the gun used in this crime was in direct contact with his head when the trigger was pulled twice. \u00a0This was an execution.”<\/p>\n
David Machado, 36, was identified as a suspect. \u00a0He fled in a\u00a0van and carjacked a white Kia sedan in a\u00a0nearby city, police said.<\/p>\n
Machado committed an armed robbery about 150 miles south of where the shooting occurred, Christianson said. \u00a0Later\u00a0he tried to steal a woman’s purse at a convenience store. \u00a0The woman fought Machado and called police. \u00a0Machado was caught by officers a short time later.<\/p>\n
Police officers didn’t recognize Machado as the suspect in Wallace’s killing until he was taken into custody. \u00a0He was identified\u00a0through tattoos and a photograph.<\/p>\n
Wallace is the fifth law enforcement officer in California to die in the line of duty in the last five weeks.<\/p>\n
Attorney General Kamala Harris said: \u00a0“This tragedy is yet another solemn reminder of the sacrifice men and women in law enforcement make each and every day when they put on the uniform and badge, not knowing if they’ll come home to their families at the end of their shift.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"