Austin Edwards: Man wanted in connection to triple homicide killed in police shootout during car chase
RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA: A man who was wanted in connection with a triple homicide was killed by the police last week after he opened fire on a SWAT team that had been dispatched to chase down his car. Austin Edwards, 28, was accused of murdering 69-year-old Mary Winek, 65-year-old Sharie Winek and 38-year-old Brooke Winek at a home in Riverside's La Sierra neighborhood. Edwards reportedly set a house on fire before the authorities arrived and kidnapped a teenage girl after claiming the lives of her grandfather, grandmother and mother.
According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, Edwards was considered armed and dangerous. Fortunately the girl was not harmed during the chase and was taken into protective custody. The teenager apparently became a victim of an online catfishing scheme in which Edwards was involved, according to the officers at the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office. After acquiring the girl's personal information, the 28-year-old is believed to have traveled from his home in North Chesterfield, Virginia, to California in order to pursue her.
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"This is yet another horrific reminder of the predators existing online who prey on our children," said Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez, according to CBS News. "If you've already had a conversation with your kids on how to be safe online and on social media, have it again. If not, start it now to better protect them."
The police reportedly spotted Edwards driving a red Kia Soul on Highway 247 on November 25. Aviation units with both the sheriff's department and California Highway Patrol tailed the Kia from a distance until a SWAT team was assembled nearby because the vehicle matched a description of the car linked to the triple homicide in La Sierra.
The sheriff's department said that as Edwards began traveling east on Highway 62, the SWAT team impeded his car, at which point, the suspect fled and subsequently started to fire at officers, striking the SWAT vehicle multiple times. The pursuit ended when Edwards "lost control" of his vehicle and drove off the road. He was killed by officers upon stepping out of the Kia Soul and firing again in their direction. Edwards died on spot and an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of his death. The teenager was rescued by the police by the time he was killed, the sheriff's department said.