SISKIYOU NEWS EXCLUSIVE
WEED, Calif. — Nearly three months after a fatal officer-involved shooting shut down northbound Interstate 5 at the North Weed off-ramp, critical questions remain unanswered — including the whereabouts of any firearm connected to the suspect — as the California Highway Patrol continues its investigation into the March 21 incident.
Mt. Shasta Police Department supplemental reports obtained by Siskiyou News detail the chaotic minutes following the shooting, which involved multiple law enforcement agencies, a police drone, and the deployment of both lethal and less-lethal force. But the documents notably omit any mention of where a weapon was located, Another bit of information that seems to be missing is which officer fired the fatal shot.
Short clip below of initial search and shooting
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Full details and body cam footage VIDEO: On March 21, 2026, a routine traffic stop by Weed Police Department on northbound Interstate 5 at the North Weed off-ramp (Exit 748) escalated into an officer-involved shooting. This incident raises questions about traffic enforcement, officer & public safety, and rapid escalation during suspected narcotics stops.
The Stop
According to Mt. Shasta PD Report 26-000088, the incident began at approximately 6:18 p.m. on March 21, 2026, when Mt. Shasta Police Sergeant Walter Moore arrived on scene to assist Weed Police Department Officer Yingling with a traffic stop involving suspected narcotics. The stop occurred on northbound I-5 at Exit 748, the North Weed off-ramp.
By 6:41 p.m., radio traffic from Sgt. Moore announced the words no officer wants to hear: “Shots fired.”
Multiple Agencies Converge
Officer Stephen Goldsberry, who was en route to his shift in Mt. Shasta, heard the call and responded with emergency lights and sirens. Upon arrival, he observed Sgt. Moore and Officer Yingling crouched in front of the suspect vehicle with their firearms drawn. Multiple apparent bullet holes were visible in the windshield of the Weed PD patrol vehicle.
California Highway Patrol units were already on scene. Officer Shawn Jole, also responding to the area, reported hearing six to eight gunshots as he approached the overpass north of the vehicles. Jole observed Sgt. Moore standing in front of the stopped vehicle with his department-issued firearm pointed at the Weed PD vehicle, then moving to a crouched position at the driver’s side front of the stopped vehicle before radioing that shots had been fired.
The Suspect
The suspect, who has not been publicly identified in the supplemental reports, was found inside the Weed Police Department patrol vehicle — not the vehicle originally stopped. Chad Edwards with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife deployed a department drone to observe the suspect and determine whether he was still armed.
Through the drone, officers determined the suspect was still breathing but bleeding heavily from the head. No firearm was visible at that time, according to Goldsberry’s report.
Officers gave multiple verbal commands for the suspect to show his hands so medical aid could be rendered. The suspect did not respond.
Extraction and Medical Aid
Sgt. Moore and assisting officers formulated a plan to approach using a ballistic shield. They opened the passenger-side door of the Weed PD patrol vehicle and removed the suspect. Officers then applied direct pressure to the suspect’s head wound until fire and medical personnel arrived. The suspect was subsequently transported to Mercy Medical Center Mount Shasta for further treatment.
The reports confirm the suspect was fatally wounded. Both Mt. Shasta PD and Weed PD later released bodycam footage to the public on May 27 and 28, respectively.
Less-Lethal Force Used
In a detail not immediately apparent from the initial incident, the supplemental reports reveal that CHP deployed a less-lethal bean bag round during the confrontation. Officer Goldsberry discovered a shotgun shell casing from that bean bag round on the hood of his own patrol vehicle upon returning to the scene, prompting his vehicle to be designated as evidence. Goldsberry remained on scene until released by the CHP Crime Scene Investigation team.
The Missing Gun
Despite the detailed tactical descriptions of the approach, extraction, and medical rendering, neither supplemental report lists the location of any firearm connected to the suspect. Whether a weapon was found inside the stopped vehicle, inside the Weed PD patrol car where the suspect was discovered, or elsewhere on the scene is not documented in the Mt. Shasta PD narratives obtained by this publication.
The California Highway Patrol is the lead investigating agency on the officer-involved shooting. CHP’s Crime Scene Investigation team processed the scene and has not yet released its final findings.
Case Status
Both Officer Goldsberry’s narrative and Officer Jole’s Supplement 1 were prepared on March 26, 2026, and approved by Mt. Shasta Police Sergeant Devon Priddy on March 30. Both supplements carry a disposition of “Ex-Clear.”
The CHP investigation remains ongoing. Siskiyou News has requested the complete case file, including any weapon recovery reports, autopsy findings, and the final investigative determination.
This is a developing story. Siskiyou News will continue to provide updates as additional records become available.
