Cerna was stopped by Sheriff's Deputy Michael Parham for a traffic violation on December 19, 2003. He tried to escape in his car and then later on foot. During the pursuit, he shot Parham twice in the abdomen, but the wound was not fatal. Cerna was arrested shortly afterward. The San Bernardino Police, the county sheriff, and the California Highway Patrol were all involved in the chase, but during his apprehension, no one ensured he was properly searched.
Sitting alone in an interrogation room, Cerna shot himself in the head at point-blank range with a .45-caliber handgun he had hidden in the front of his pants. The event was recorded on the security surveillance camera in the room. Although Cerna died instantly, his head bled extensively.
