CHP Shooting Victim ID’d as Porterville Man

CIMA – California Highway Patrol officers shot a man to death when he reportedly fired a shot at officers following a pursuit last week. On Monday, the 42-year-old man was identified as John Joseph Marr of Porterville, Calif., who was with a female passenger.

The chase ended in a shootout at the Cima Road exit to Interstate Highway 15

CHP reports that the pursuit began just after 2 p.m. on May 28 when a sheriff’s deputy tried to pull over Marr’s car, a gray Volvo, near Ghost Town Road and the Interstate 15 freeway. Sheriff’s spokeswoman Cynthia Bachman said Marr refused to stop, speeding off northbound toward Baker at speeds estimated near 100 mph. Deputies asked CHP for assistance, said spokesman, Donald Spiker.

The chase lasted from Yermo to Cima, an 80-mile stretch of highway, before the fatal shooting. Officers used a spike strip at Zzyzx Road, which flattened two of Marr’s tires, Spiker said, but he continued driving for another 40 miles, averaging under 20 mph. He exited the freeway at Cima Rd., driving through a wooden fence at a gas station, reportedly fled from his vehicle, pulled out a firearm and began shooting at CHP officers.

Return fire caught Marr, striking him several times. He was pronounced dead at the scene. There were no other injuries. The female passenger, who was not identified, was taken into custody.

There were no reasons given by either CHP or county sheriff’s why Marr fled from officers. The entire chase and shootout took less than an hour. Marr was pronounced dead at 2:53 p.m.
Yermo, where the pursuit began, is located by neighboring Barstow.

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Daily Press: CHP: Man died on scene in shootout

CHP Shooting Victim ID’d as Porterville Man was last modified: January 14th, 2019 by admin
Categories: San Bernardino, Tulare

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Lee Brown

Obrey "Lee" Brown has worked for 10 newspapers and magazines in the Bay Area, central and southern California. In 2005, he wrote "A Citrus Test: Football in Black & White." He can be reached at baseballOLB@hotmail.com.