Police kill suspect who killed Riverside County sheriff's deputy

The sheriff's department confirmed that a deputy of the Riverside County sheriff was shot and died in Jurupa Valley on Thursday afternoon. After a motorway chase and gunfire, police shot and killed the suspect.

Isaiah Cordero, a 32-year-old deputy who joined the organization in 2014, was named by the department. During a traffic check in Jurupa Valley's 3900 block of Golden West Avenue, he was fatally shot.

William Shae McKay, 44, was stopped by Cordero just before 2:00 p.m., said Sheriff Chad Bianco during a press conference on Thursday evening.

Deputy Cordero was shot by the suspect as he got close to the car, according to Bianco. "A local resident who saw the shooting dialed 911. Our department and a few allied organizations responded right away."

Bianco reported that once McKay was located in San Bernardino County, police pursued him on Interstate 15 and State Route 60. According to Bianco, McKay's truck's axle eventually failed and damaged his back tires, throwing the vehicle off the 15 in a lateral motion.

"The suspect fired rounds at the deputies," Bianco said. "At that point, deputies returned fire and the suspect was killed."

Cordero had previously been brought to Riverside Community Hospital and was later declared dead. He is survived by his parents, stepbrother, girlfriend, as well as other friends and family, according to Bianco.

"I want to extend my sincere condolences to Deputy Cordero's loved ones," Bianco said. "Nothing is more heartbreaking than losing a son in a senseless manner when they are living their life for others, serving their community."

Cordero worked as a correctional deputy in three separate county jails after being hired. In February 2018, he was sworn in as a patrol deputy, and in 2020, he moved to the Jurupa Valley station.

He'd recently been hired as a motorcycle officer. His ambition from the moment he was hired was to become a motor deputy, according to Bianco, who added that he finished training for the position in September.

The hearse transporting Cordero's body from Riverside Community Hospital to the sheriff's coroner's office in Perris early on Thursday evening was followed by a lengthy procession of police vehicles and motorcyclists.

According to Bianco, McKay has a lengthy criminal past that dates back to before 2000, with convictions for offenses including kidnapping and assault among others. He claimed that McKay had recently received his third strike conviction, a string of felony convictions that generally carries a term ranging from 25 years to life in prison.

"This terrible tragedy should have been prevented by the legal system," Bianco said.

According to Bianco, the judge in San Bernardino County who was in charge of his case deferred sentencing and reduced McKay's bail, allowing for his release. According to Bianco, McKay skipped a relevant sentencing hearing. And following another later arrest, McKay was given permission to leave.

"We would not be here today if the judge had done her job," Bianco said, declining to identify the judge when asked by reporters.

According to San Bernardino County court records, McKay's was found guilty in November of felony false imprisonment, eluding a police officer, and making criminal threats.

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