The woman who was fatally shot by Escondido police following a pursuit on a San Diego freeway Friday was unarmed, prompting the California Department of Justice to begin a criminal investigation, Attorney General Rob Bonta said.

Saturday’s announcement by Bonta was the first indication that the woman died and that she was unarmed.

The shooting took place around 5 p.m. Friday on Interstate 15 near State Route 163 in the Miramar area of northern San Diego, according to the Escondido Police Department .

It happened after a police pursuit that began at about 4 p.m. in the North County city and ended in a collision on the southbound side of the freeway. At some point, police opened fire on the vehicle, and the woman was rushed to a hospital by paramedics, Escondido Police Sgt. Andrew Maxwell

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