Man Shot by Police After Chase Through Art Show Is Identified

The man fatally shot by police after leading authorities on a 20-minute chase through downtown Ventura this weekend was identified Sunday as a 28-year-old transient with family living in San Luis Obispo County.

Jason Todd Hayley was struck by a shotgun blast in the back at 6:18 p.m. Saturday near the corner of Poli and Oak streets, after he brandished a revolver, burst through several downtown businesses and, at times, ran from rooftop to rooftop, authorities said.

According to the Ventura coroner’s office, Hayley was pronounced dead at 6:58 p.m. at the Ventura County Medical Center, where he was taken after the shooting.

“He put hundreds of lives in danger. We don’t know what his intentions were, but anyone around a crazed guy pointing a gun is in danger,” said Ventura Police Sgt. Gary McCaskill.

It was unclear whether Hayley, whom witnesses said was seen pointing the gun at himself, had any drugs or alcohol in his system. A coroner’s spokesman, however, said Sunday there was “no visible evidence” that he had used drugs or alcohol prior to being shot, though a toxicology report would not be ready for several weeks.

Ventura police officials on Sunday would not detail the circumstances leading to Hayley’s death. They said Hayley had a criminal record and had been arrested previously, but declined to elaborate.

Another transient who knew Hayley said he saw the gunman during Saturday’s melee. “I made eye-to-eye contact with him, and I felt he was going to kill himself or someone else,” said the homeless man, who asked not to be identified.

“He was known on the street for being dangerous, and his nickname was ‘The Shadow,’ ” said the man, adding that Hayley was known to live in his truck in Ventura.

In January, Hayley was the victim of an assault on Ventura Avenue. He was beaten and stabbed, but police at the time said he was “uncooperative” when questioned about his assailants or their motive for the assault.

Saturday’s deadly events began about 5:55 p.m. when Hayley was arguing with an unidentified woman near the Greyhound bus station at 219 E. Thompson Blvd.

When a police officer came upon the pair to question Hayley, he began running north toward Main Street. The chase began as hundreds of people were gathering for the start of the city’s annual Artwalk celebration along Main Street.

Correspondent Pamela J. Johnson contributed to this story.