Sheriff’s Deputies In California Killed A 15-Year-Old Girl Fleeing From Her Abductor.

On Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, police engaged in a shootout with a man accused of fatally shooting his wife and kidnapping his 15-year-old daughter in California. During the shootout, however, the girl ran toward police for help — and they shot her to death.

According to an initial report by ABC 7, San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said that evidence suggested 15-year-old Savannah Graziano was “a participant in shooting at our deputies.”

According to the Los Angeles Times, it was subsequently revealed that she was unarmed.

The incident occurred after the Fontana Police Department issued an Amber Alert in response to claims that Savannah's father, Anthony John Graziano, had murdered his wife, abducted his teenage daughter, and fled in a vehicle.

The notice included vehicle information and was transmitted to the California Highway Patrol.

On the morning of the shooting, police received a tip from someone who believed they saw Graziano’s pickup truck, which led to a pursuit along Highway 58 heading toward I-15 near Glenwood.

As Graziano fled down the highway, he fired back at pursuing deputies, Dicus said, “disabling” one of the patrol cars in the process.

As the pursuit continued, Graziano was “constantly shooting back at the deputies during that period of time.”

Eventually, after 45 miles, Graziano veered off the road along I-15, and multiple patrol cars arrived to contain him.

“As a result of that, a firefight ensued,” Dicus said. “During that firefight, the suspect vehicle comes to rest — at which time a suspect exits the passenger side of the vehicle wearing tactical gear. That subject starts to run towards Sheriff’s Deputies and during the gun fire goes down.”

Anthony Graziano was also killed during the shootout, at which point police were able to approach his vehicle and recover only a single rifle, People reported.

She was rushed to a nearby hospital, but sadly, she died within one hour.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department later notified the California Department of Justice that the shooting may qualify under AB 1506, a provision requiring the department to investigate incidents in which “the death to the unarmed civilian is caused by a California peace officer.”

Following the shooting, the California Highway Patrol canceled the Amber Alert for Savannah Graziano, which had been issued due to the death of Tracy Martinez, 45, whose marriage to Anthony Graziano was in the process of divorce.

The day before the highway pursuit, Fontana police discovered Martinez suffering from several gunshot wounds at a Cypress Elementary School. She was allegedly shot by Graziano while Savannah was in the back seat of his pickup truck.

Neighbor Andy Davis reported to ABC 7:

“The man just came down the street shooting. He started shooting in that direction. Hit those trees, houses across the street. They say the bullets were skipping off the street, and the woman was trying to run for her life, and unfortunately she was hit. Once she was hit I guess he shot at her a few more times.”

Anthony Graziano had moved out of the family’s home a month or two before allegedly shooting Martinez, Fontana Sergeant Christian Surgent said. Savannah left with her father. Her younger brother stayed at home with Martinez.

Per CBS, Martinez was rushed to a local trauma center, where she died.

Police also investigated a storage locker that had belonged to Anthony Graziano, where they found multiple AR-15 style weapons, handguns, thousands of rounds of ammunition, smoke grenades, and armor plate carriers.

Prior to this incident, there had been no reports of domestic violence in the household, nor had either parent been on probation or parole at the time. Investigators believe Savannah was being home-schooled while living with her father, who liked to camp in the desert and the mountains in his truck.

Martinez’s brother said he and his family are still “trying to figure all of this out.”