"(The suspect) turned toward the officer and pointed a semi-automatic pistol at the officers. He fired at least two rounds. Through further investigation we will be able to be definitive as to how many rounds he shot at officers, before the officers returned fire," said Berkeley police Sgt. Mary Kusmiss.
Witnesses corroborated the police version of events.
"We heard (about) 10 gun shots and then we saw the lights. So we came out to look out the window and we saw the body on the ground," said witness Susala Lopez.
"I thought it was just cars being hit. Because it was such a loud noise -- bam, bam, bam," said a witness.
Video from the scene clearly shows the weapon. A witness who did not want to be identified said the deceased ran down 8th Street screaming. Police told him to stop and then he began firing at police.
It was the conclusion of an evening that began in Albany, where police there pulled the suspect over for an unidentified crime. The driver took off toward Berkeley and stopped at Jones and San Pablo where police started to set up a perimeter.
Witnesses also say a second person was arrested at the scene, Berkeley police are not confirming that.
Police have not yet released the identification of the shooting suspect.
