Police radio reveals calm amid unfolding tragedy
Police radio traffic provided an audio sketch of the unfolding tragedy as officers in San Bernardino, Calif., sought to follow up on multiple reports of “shots fired."
The reports turned out to be horrifying. Fourteen dead and 17 wounded in a bloodbath at a social services center.
The suspects had fled, leading to a manhunt for the killers. Soon reports of a suspect vehicle sent officers swarming, sirens wailing.
One officer, sounding remarkably calm, reported following a dark colored Chevrolet through a Target parking lot and back to the street. He said that someone was firing out the back window.
A while later, there was a report of an officer injured from a ricochet, and of a suspect in the truck "still breathing in the back seat with an AR strapped to his chest.” AR is a reference to an assault-type rifle.
Police clearly knew their communications were being monitored. One officer said a SWAT team was needed at a different location, "but don't want to give the address over the air.”