Man who died following crash into Ashley Furniture in Redding identified | Crime
REDDING, Calif. – The Redding Police Department has identified the man who died following a…
REDDING, Calif. – The Redding Police Department has identified the man who died following a crash into the Ashley Furniture Store in Redding on Saturday.
Police say 25-year-old Michael Branson died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The Shasta County Superior Court issued a warrant for Branson’s arrest on May 27 for charges in connection to an ongoing case of sexual abuse of a 12-year-old.
Branson took off from police when they attempted to pull him over on Saturday. Branson then entered the main entrance of the Walmart Shopping Center and drove west through the parking lot.
Police said he drove head-on into the west wall of the Ashley Furniture Store.
Officers attempted to contact Branson verbally but officers were not getting a response back.
Due to Branson having a warrant and the likelihood that he was armed, officers fired bean bag rounds at the window to break it, according to police. Officers then used a drone to look inside the vehicle.
It was then determined Branson was dead, police said. Officers located a loaded firearm in the cab of the truck.
