A violent confrontation unfolded outside a popular In-N-Out Burger in Newport Beach, California, when police fatally shot a suspect wanted for carjacking and murder after he opened fire on officers and tried to storm the crowded restaurant.

Authorities said the dramatic incident began when license plate readers flagged a vehicle connected to a recent carjacking and homicide. Officers quickly located the car and attempted a traffic stop, but the driver—identified as 31-year-old Andre Matijasevic—refused to comply and sped away.

Moments later, Matijasevic stopped, jumped out of the vehicle, and began firing at responding officers and their patrol cars. Witnesses captured the chaos on video as gunfire erupted just steps away from diners and staff inside the In-N-Out.

Police say Matijasevic, still armed, ran toward the restaurant’s open doors before being struck by return fire. Even after falling to the ground, he continued shooting at officers. Officers immediately rendered medical aid until paramedics arrived, but the suspect was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

No officers or bystanders were injured, and investigators recovered the suspect’s firearm at the scene. The area was sealed off for hours as the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and Newport Beach Police Department’s Critical Incident Review team processed evidence and interviewed witnesses.

Law enforcement officials commended the quick actions of responding officers, emphasizing that their decisive response likely prevented a mass-casualty tragedy. “They acted with courage under fire and protected innocent lives,” one official said.

The shootout is the latest reminder of the rising threat faced by police in Democrat-run states, where violent offenders continue to endanger communities. Thanks to rapid police response, what could have been a horrific restaurant massacre was stopped before more lives were lost.