Police are searching for a suspect who allegedly shot and killed a woman in Walnut Creek. Officers were involved in an hour long standoff with the suspect in Martinez on late Thursday.

Officers were seen near Howe and Old Orchard roads, surrounding a silver sedan with a man in the driver’s seat. Police believe that he is the one involved in the fatal shooting.

Officers searched for the suspect throughout the afternoon after he shot dead a woman near the Lindsay Wildlife Experience in Walnut Creek. The incident took place at around 1:30 PM in the 1900 block of First Avenue.

When police officers located the victim, she was suffering from at least one gunshot wound. She was provided “life saving measures”, but she died at the scene, police said.

After the incident, police asked residents near Buena Vista Avenue between San Luis and Geary roads in Walnut Creek to shelter in place.

According to police the suspect left his car on Lynvale and fled to a house on San Luis. He then took another vehicle there and fled to Martinez, where he was spotted by a Walnut Creek officer, police said.

Police investigated the house on San Luis for any further evidence of crime, but nothing significant was found.

The identities of the victim or the suspect were not revealed and police are not certain about their relationship.

AMandeep