RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KGTV) -- One of the California Highway Patrol officers wounded during a shootout in Riverside Monday evening died and two others remain hospitalized Tuesday, according to the CHP.
According to Riverside authorities, the shooting happened around 5:35 p.m. on the 215 Freeway near Box Springs Boulevard and Eastridge Avenue.
CHP officer Andre Moye stopped the suspect driving a GMC pickup truck and then decided to impound the vehicle, officials said.
RELATED: Cellphone video captures deadly officer-involved shooting in Riverside
As he was calling for a tow truck and filling out paperwork, the suspect entered the truck, grabbed a rifle and fired it at the officer, police say. Officer Moye was able to broadcast an "officer needs assistance" call.
Of the first three officers on scene, two of them were immediately engaged, both of them were struck during a gun fire exchange, authorities said.
One of them received major injuries to his leg and was taken to the hospital in critical condition. By Tuesday afternoon, “he was conscious and talking, in good spirits," said CHP Inland Chief Bill Dance.
The other CHP officer received minor injuries to his leg.
The suspect was killed in a shootout with a fourth CHP officer.
Officer Moye was transported to Riverside County Medical Center in Moreno Valley and was pronounced dead, authorities said.
“This incident shows just how dangerous the job of the California Highway Patrol and law enforcement is in general," said Dance.
A "large contingent of security" was established at the hospital out of an "abundance of caution," said Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
Tuesday, investigators continued the lengthy task of looking for evidence on the side of the 215 freeway.
"It was a long and horrific gun battle," said Riverside Police Chief Sergio Diaz. "And it resulted in a very extensive crime scene."
In addition to the three CHP officers who were shot, police said a witness may have also been hit with something, but it doesn't appear to be gunfire.
Video from the scene shows bullet holes in the front windshields of two CHP cars.
During a news conference Tuesday, Diaz identified the gun used by the suspect only as a rifle, saying it had not yet been processed.
KABC is reporting that family members of the suspected gunman identified him as Aaron Luther, a father of two from Beaumont in his late 40s.
Watch the news conference in the player below:
