UPDATED: Knife-wielding man in Temecula fatally shot during confrontation with deputies ID’d
UPDATE#2 05/06/2016 3:37 a.m.
TEMECULA – A knife-wielding man was shot and killed during a confrontation with deputies from Temecula PD May 4, according to Riverside Sheriff Public Information Officer Deputy Michael Vasquez.
Coroner’s officials have identified the man killed in this officer involved shooting as Matthew Tucker, 18, of Temecula. The coroner’s release indicated Tucker’s time of injury was 5:43 p.m. The release also revealed Tucker survived for shortly more than two hours and succumbed to his injuries at 8:01 p.m.
The deadly encounter occurred after someone called sheriff’s 911 emergency communications dispatchers to report an an unknown type emergency at a residence in the 32600 block of Hislop Way, in Temecula. Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Temecula Police Station were dispatched to the emergency call for service.
As deputies arrived on scene, they made contact with the 911 caller, who directed them to the garage at the residence.
Deputies made contact with a male, later identified by coroner’s officials as Matthew Tucker, in the garage who was armed with a knife. Upon contacting the man, deputies attempted to calm him and repeatedly ordered Tucker to drop the knife he was holding. Despite their efforts, Tucker refused to drop the knife he was holding.
The armed subject then reportedly “advanced towards the deputies while still holding the knife” in an aggressive and threatening manner, at which time “an officer involved shooting occurred,” Vasquez explained. Two deputies discharged their weapons at the knife-wielding subject, according to Vasquez.
Deputies immediately put out an emergency call for assistance, reporting that shots had been fired at the residence. They also reported the subject with the knife had been struck by one or more rounds fired by deputies on scene. The sheriff’s department did not release any information regarding how many deputies were at the location at the time of the fatal shooting.
Deputies immediately requested medical assistance for Tucker. “A Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department Investigator arrived and rendered medical attention to the male,” according to Vasquez. Tucker was transported to Inland Valley Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
“The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave per Department policy. The involved officers’ names will not be released at this time,” Vasquez said about the fatal incident.
Investigators from the Riverside Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit and investigators from the Temecula Police Department responded and assumed the investigation.
“The investigation is an active and on-going,” according to Vasquez.
The Central Homicide Unit has encouraged anyone with information regarding this incident to immediately contact Investigator Mullins at (951) 955-2777 or Investigator Franchville of the Temecula Police Department at (951) 696-4357. Callers can refer to incident file number TE161250213 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Do you know that they found 7 bullets in him? He was barely 18! 7 bullets in his chest!
We will miss you matthew.
I do not know any hard, first-hand facts related to this incident, besides what the sheriff’s department has officially released. However, that being said, I spent 13 years with RSO and finished my career with them as a sex crimes and child abuse investigator. Standard training is to never fire less than three rounds and to continue firing until the threat is neutralized.
If it is true that the deputies fired 9-10 rounds and the person with the knife was struck 7 times, that goes directly with the standard training all California law enforcement officers currently receive through POST (Peace Officers Standards and Training.) While that might not be popular or sound aggressive, based on the number of misses officers have when firing under extreme pressure, it actually does make sense.
My question for the family, especially the person who called 911 to report their son was armed and out of control, if they had been able to handle and control the situation, they never would have called 911 in the first place. Also, had Matthew NOT been armed with a knife, and IF he had put the knife down immediately when ordered to do so, this entire situation may possibly have ended entirely differently. However, as I stated before I only know what has been officially released and there are usually several sides to every story.
Lisa, if you have first-hand knowledge of this tragic death or know someone who does, by all means, PLEASE have them contact me privately at [email protected] I am already preparing to write a follow up to this incident, so any additional FIRST-HAND information I can get from the person who called 911 or who witnessed the fatal shooting would be of great help to shedding more light on this awful tragedy.
I have been involved in a few fatal and non-fatal shooting incidents myself, both directly and indirectly, so any first-hand information I can get will help me to be able to better tell the WHOLE story of what happened that day.
-TM
What, are they too stupid or incompetent to shoot at the suspect’s leg from 20 feet away? Or is that too far away from them? When I was a kid, cops didn’t act like paid killers. FU and your stupid training.
The fact is Joe, that is simply not how law enforcement officers are currently trained. They are trained to shoot center mass. Shooting a gun, knife or other weapon out of someone’s hand or wounding them in the leg is TV nonsense. Not to say it can’t happen under the perfect circumstances, but it is rare to happen that way.
Most officer-involved shootings happen within split seconds and officers rarely have much time to process the rapidly evolving situations around them. Usually, situations being caused by the actions of other people that they are having to respond and react to within mere seconds, at most.
Best wished to you, Joe.
-TM
The police were called because this mothers child was depressed and wanted to inflict self harm and that is the first thing a dr tells you to do in this situation. These officers were not there to help. I had a dr tell me the same thing just 2 days ago. I cried telling him this story and said I’m trying to save my child from death not get him murdered. Temecula police are as bad as they get. Self righteous bastards.
We look to the police to protect Matt how can we send help if the conclusion was to murder him. The phone call was reaching for guidance the first step the officers failed at.
RIP Matt
I’m truly sorry for your loss. 18 is way too young to leave this world, under any circumstances.
-TM
I somehow doubt any of Matthew’s friends would have said word one in protest, had he successfully assaulted and/or murdered any of the responding deputies. The number of bullets is irrelevant, his actions when the deputies responded, is all that’s important. The family obviously lost the ability to deal with him, so lo and behold, the call to 911 was made. LEOs are NOT required to put themselves in the direct path of a knife, firearm, bat, tire iron, etc., then allow the suspect a first swing and/or shot, before reacting in defense of their life. This young man drew the play, not the deputies, who were then forced to defend themselves.
It is Sad how quick you can judge Matthew and you didn’t know the kid. I knew the kid he was a good kind hearted person who would help anybody and his Faith for God was strong. Matthew loved his family and friends with all of his heart. I have lost my Mom who was murdered in San Diego, Ca 1987 Mary Helan Moya now I have to re-live another tragic loss for my family. Please do not post negative comments about Matthew . RIP Nephew Uncle George loves you.
Thane, you sound like an effing coward.
It is rather unfortunate that police are not trained how to subdue an armed suspect successfully with the use of less than deadly force by consistently successful methods. Ways to fix this problem should be actively sought nationally. Our judicial system is plagued with inherent flaws and the lacks in several areas in policy and practice. Can we blame an officer who is engaged in a system which is conceptually in error? No. However, we can ask the officer how do you think changes can be implemented to prevent fatalities in the future? We know RSD can’t bring Matthew back. How can the death of people who are armed be prevented while preserving the life of all engaged?
Lamar, in this particular case, the officer deployed less lethal weapons (Taser stun guns) twice at the suspect. Neither had any effect on the man.
-TM
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