Two San Bernardino police officers are shot while trying to arrest suspect in deputy shooting

Two San Bernardino police officers were shot Wednesday afternoon while trying to arrest a man suspected of shooting a county sheriff’s deputy the day before, authorities said.

San Bernardino Police Chief Eric McBride identified the suspect Wednesday night as Ervin Olikong, 34, a gang member with an extensive criminal history.

Olikong was shot during the encounter and died at the scene, authorities said.

San Bernardino police had him under surveillance and SWAT officers moved in Wednesday afternoon after deciding that it was the best chance to bring him into custody, McBride said.

The chief declined to go into further details about department tactics.

Deputies responded at 3:38 p.m. to the area of Victoria Avenue and Rosemary Drive in Highland, said Cindy Bachman, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

San Bernardino Police Department SWAT officers were at that location trying to make contact with a man, later identified as Olikong, believed to be responsible for shooting a sheriff’s deputy on Tuesday, Bachman said.

Law enforcement officials described that incident as an ambush.

San Bernardino police huddle near the scene where two officers were wounded Aug. 18.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Shots were fired as SWAT officers tried to contact the suspect, and the two lawmen were hit by gunfire, Bachman said.

The officers were taken to Loma Linda University Medical Center for treatment, she said.

As of late Wednesday evening, one officer was in surgery, said San Bernardino Police Lt. Michele Mahan. The other officer also remained hospitalized.

Both were doing well and were expected to survive their injuries, Mahan said.

The shooting came a day after a San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy was shot and wounded while making a traffic stop.

In that incident, the deputy attempted the traffic stop about 4:15 p.m. near North Waterman Avenue and East 10th Street inside San Bernardino city limits.

The deputy called in the stop and seconds later radioed that there were shots fired and he’d been hit, Bachman said.

San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said deputies arrived to find the deputy, described only as a 27-year-old man who has been with the department for four years, down.

The deputy suffered what appear to be superficial injuries to his face and had shrapnel in one arm, the sheriff said.

After opening fire on the deputy, Olikong approached the patrol vehicle, Mahan said. Authorities are not yet sure what he planned to do but said they’re thankful he did not shoot again.