The man who died in an officer-involved shooting that shut down Highway 99 in north Bakersfield for six hours was 41-year-old Felipe Casas of Fresno.

CHP Officer Sally Barker says the officer who fired his gun is a 22 year veteran of the department and is on paid leave, but she wouldn’t give more details. The Highway Patrol is investigating Friday’s incident on the southbound lanes near Merle Haggard Drive while the Sheriff’s Office has launched their own investigation.

The officer has claimed Casas walked towards him with a knife after running across traffic following a crash.

Kelli Pierce