Wild Police Chase On Motorcycles In California Ends It Shootout, Suspect Taken Out

Fremont, California — Fremont Police released body camera footage in connection with a fatal police shooting of a robbery suspect identified as 34-year-old Joshua James Gloria, along Highway 84 last month. The incident occurred at March 24, 2021 at around 2:48PM following a pursuit that ended on eastbound SR-84, west of Newark Boulevard. The vehicle being pursued had been reported stolen and was associated with an armed robbery.

On March 24, 2021, at 2:48​ pm, Fremont Police Officer Burch was in the Ardenwood area of Fremont. Officer Burch was wearing his full police uniform and riding his fully marked police motorcycle. Officer Burch was working traffic enforcement when he heard over his police radio a vehicle had activated a License Plate Reader camera in the area. This vehicle was wanted in connection with an armed robbery with the use of a firearm in San Francisco. The vehicle was also reported stolen. Officer Burch located the suspect vehicle as it entered Newark from southbound Ardenwood Blvd in Fremont. Officer Burch broadcasted that he located the vehicle in a shopping center in Newark.

Officer Burch followed the vehicle through the parking lot while waiting for additional officers to arrive. The vehicle attempted to flee and Officer Burch initiated a pursuit. The suspect vehicle drove northbound on Newark Blvd. and turned onto the on-ramp of eastbound Hwy 84. The suspect struck several vehicles as it fled from Officer Burch and became disabled. The suspect vehicle made its way to the right shoulder and abruptly stopped. The suspect immediately exited his vehicle with a firearm while running towards and shooting at Officer Burch, who was still on his motorcycle. Officer Burch was forced to jump off of his motorcycle and retreat down the shoulder embankment while the suspect continued to fire at him.

After being chased and shot at, Officer Burch immediately drew his department issued service weapon, and turned around to return fire. Simultaneously as he returned fire, the armed suspect was straddling the police motorcycle, which was equipped with a department issued AR-15 rifle. The suspect fell to the ground after being struck. The Fremont Police Department was contacted by the San Jose Police Department after this incident. San Jose Police had an arrest warrant for Gloria for attempted homicide and felon in possession of a firearm. Gloria was wanted for a shooting at an illegal gambling facility where he shot a victim multiple times, including a shot to the back of the head, while he was on the ground. The San Jose victim was critically injured but survived.