Manhunt Continues for Man Wanted in Shooting of Two California Deputies

Several schools were closed and residents were advised to lock their doors as a manhunt continued Monday in a remote Central California community for a murder suspect in the shooting of two Kern County, Calif., sheriff's deputies, reports the Los Angeles Times .

Authorities say the man, wearing military-style clothing, is connected to a four-day crime rampage starting Tuesday with a kidnapping near Twin Oaks, 20 miles east of Bakersfield. It continued Thursday with the fatal shooting of a man, and intensified Saturday with the non-fatal shooting of two deputies.

"This is an individual we consider armed and extremely dangerous," sheriff's spokesman Ray Pruitt said. "This is a person suspected of several violent crimes. He has shown he is not hesitant to engage law enforcement."

SWAT members from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and a helicopter from the Orange County's Sheriff's Department have been deployed to aid Kern County deputies.

Saturday at 8:30 p.m., the gunman fired at SWAT deputies on a remote property near Kelso Valley Road and Jawbone Canyon Road, Pruitt said. Two deputies –- Michael Booker and Jose Perez -- were struck by bullets. Booker was shot in both arms and Perez was grazed by a bullet.

SWAT deputies returned fire, but it was unclear if the man was struck, Pruitt said.