Joseph M. Pate, the 39-year-old Pittsburg man who reportedly shot a California Highway Patrol officer near Proberta and died from return fire, had a history of arrests dating back nearly a decade.
His mother, Laura Pate, described her son as "very troubled," during a phone interview with Tri-County News, and that this "troubling behavior was new, but I didn't know what was bothering him."
Pate was not married and did not have children, according to his mother.
"I don't know what he was doing in that area," she added. "I don't know why he did what he did."
The CHP officer, whose name has not been released, had stopped around 11:37 a.m., to conduct a welfare check on Pate who was on the southbound shoulder of Interstate 5 near Chard Avenue with his disabled vehicle on Sunday, Oct. 15.
As the officer approached, Pate pulled out an assault-type rifle and fired several rounds striking the officer, who although injured was able to pull his duty weapon and return fire, hitting the suspect with multiple rounds, according to the Tehama County Sheriff's Office.
As the officer was issuing a request for emergency assistance, Pate reportedly stole his patrol car and fled southbound on I-5 with responding Corning police and sheriff's deputies soon in pursuit.
As Pate was driving south of Thomas Creek he reportedly collided with a big-rig causing it to overturn down an embankment on the west side of the freeway.
The patrol vehicle also went off the west side of the freeway through a fence and into a grassy field where it caught fire.
TCSO said Pate surrendered to officers without incident and was rendered aid for multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to Enloe Medical Center in Chico where medical staff pronounced him deceased, the sheriff's office said.
The CHP officer, who suffered serious injuries in the shooting, was transported by medical helicopter to Mercy Medical Center in Redding where he underwent a successful surgery and is now recovering, said CHP Officer Alex Read of the CHP Northern Division Office.
According to reports, the driver of the big rig suffered minor injuries when the truck overturned.
The Tehama County officer involved shooting protocol has been initiated and the TCSO is conducting a criminal investigation into Pate's actions and motives. Investigating the officer's involvement in the shooting is the Tehama County District Attorney's Office and the CHP is conducting its own internal investigation.
Internet search shows Pate was arrested at least 11 times since 2014 in cities and counties throughout the Bay Area on suspicion of burglary, drug-related crimes, arrest warrants and driving under the influence.
Anyone with information or video recordings of the incident is asked to contact the TCSO at 530-529-7920.
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