Yuma, Arizona._ On Sunday, June 11, 2023, at about 7:58 a.m., the Yuma Police Department responded to the 900 block of S. Arizona Avenue in reference to a shooting.
Responding officers located a 51-year-old male with multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center, where he was later pronounced deceased.
Officers had a suspect and vehicle description, a white pickup, from witnesses on the scene. At approximately 10:46 a.m., the suspect vehicle was located in the 2500 block of Virginia Drive. The white pickup truck was unoccupied, and officers learned the suspect had a second vehicle, a white Cadillac.
Officers located the Cadillac in the 100 block of East 16th Street and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle fled from officers at a high rate of speed, and officers pursued the vehicle. The vehicle fled into California and headed west on I8. California Highway Patrol was notified. YPD officers continued the pursuit and the Cadillac exited I8 at the Andrade exit, crossed the overpass, and headed eastbound on I8 at a high rate of speed. Stop sticks were deployed, and the Cadillac struck them approximately two miles west of the Winterhaven Exit. The vehicle left the roadway and rolled several times. The suspect, a 27-year-old male, was ejected from the vehicle.
The suspect was flown to a California hospital in serious condition. There were no other occupants in the vehicle.
The victim and suspect were known to each other.
UPDATE: The deceased victim has been identified as 51-year-old Benjamin Pilgrim.
UPDATE #2: The suspect, in this case, has been identified as 27-year-old Nicholas Berry. Berry was taken into custody by Sheriff Deputies from the Riverside Sheriff’s Office, Palm Desert Station, assigned to the Rancho Mirage Special Enforcement Team, after being released from the hospital and booked into Riverside County Jail.
This is an active investigation.
The Yuma Police Department encourages anyone with any information about this case to please call the Yuma Police Department at (928) 783-4421 or 78-Crime at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous. Remember, if your information leads to an arrest, you may receive up to a $1,000 cash reward.
Information Released By: Sergeant Lori Franklin
