UPDATE #4: Man pins deputies down with gunfire inside residence, leading to officer involved shooting

UPDATE: 07/05/2016 11:40 p.m. With additional pictures.

 

UPDATE: 07/05/2016 12:15 p.m. With details and information from sheriff’s department.

Original story and update below. 

 

At about 3:50 PM, deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Eastvale Police Station responded to the 5700 block of Westchester Way, to assist Cal Fire/Riverside County firefighters with a suicidal subject at the location, according to Riverside Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Deputy Armando Munoz.

The emergency first responders had gone to the residence to assist a man who had reportedly overdosed on undisclosed type pills.

When they arrived, deputies were told that a gunshot was heard from inside the residence and that someone was possibly shot inside the residence.

Based on the circumstances the officers entered the residence to provide medical aid and located a male subject who was inside an upstairs bedroom and refusing to come out. The man was later identified as Thomas Williams, 40, of Eastvale.

As the deputies attempted to convince Williams to exit the upstairs bedroom, he suddenly and without provocation fired multiple rounds through the door at the deputies who were trying to provide him with medical attention, Munoz explained.

The deputies retreated but were pinned down by the gunfire in the upstairs portion of the residence, at which time they put out an “11-99” emergency call for immediate assistance on their radios.

Because they could not safely exit the residence without coming under fire again from Williams, numerous deputies from the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station, Eastvale Police Station, Norco Sheriff’s Station, Corona Police Department, and other surrounding areas and agencies rushed to the location to aid the pinned down deputies. The Riverside Police Department’s helicopter also responded to assist.

Because the deputies were trapped inside the residence with Williams, Corona PD’s Bearcat Tactical Rescue Vehicle responded to the location to assist in safely extracting the pinned down deputies.

With assistance from other Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies and other allied agencies’ officers, the pinned down officers were able to safely retreat from the residence without injury, Munoz stated.

Williams, who was still armed with a weapon and highly agitated, refused to obey officers orders to exit the upstairs bedroom. As officers from multiple agencies attempted to peacefully negotiate with Williams, he refused commands to put down his weapon and an officer involved shooting occurred.

Williams was not injured during the shooting and eventually complied with officers orders. At about 5:30 p.m., he was transported to a local hospital for precautionary purposes due to the originally reported overdose. After being medically cleared, deputies arrested Williams and he was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center for attempted murder.

Two Eastvale PD deputies were involved in the original incident when Williams shot at them and two law enforcement officers were involved in the second exchange of gunfire – one from the Corona Police Department and the other from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, according to Munoz.

Neither were injured and have been placed on administrative leave per their Departments’ policies, Munoz explained. The involved officer’s names will not be released at this time.

A jail record search revealed Williams was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer. He is being held in lieu of $1 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at the Riverside Hall of Justice July 7.

Investigators from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Departments’ Central Homicide Unit responded and assumed the investigation. According to Munoz, this is an active and ongoing investigation.

The Eastvale Police Department has encouraged anyone with information regarding the incident to contact Central Homicide Investigator Posson at (951) 955-2777. Callers can refer to incident file number EV161860029 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPDATE: 07/04/2016 11:35 p.m. With photographs from scene

 

EASTVALE – Very few details have been released after an officer-involved shooting occurred at a single-family residential home in the city of Eastvale Monday, July 4. The shooting occurred in the cul-de-sac of the 5700 block of Westchester Way, north of Maryland Avenue at about 4:30 p.m., according to Riverside County Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Deputy Armando Munoz.

While the incident was still active and ongoing, numerous curious neighbors from surrounding streets crowded the intersection of Westchester Way and Maryland Avenue, Until they were forced back by deputies trying to ensure the safety of the public.

In a video posted on social media, at least five shots could be heard being fired from the area of the residence. It was not immediately known who had fired the shots that were heard.

A man from the residence was hospitalized after the shooting. According to Munoz, the man was not struck by gunfire. However, he was taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure.

The incident began at about 3:50 p.m., after deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Eastvale Police/Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station responded to the residence to assist Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department fire personnel on an unknown type call.

At some point after their arrival, two deputies at the location put out an “11-99” – officers need immediate emergency assistance – call over their radios, advising that shots had been fired inside the residence. Numerous deputies and officers from surrounding areas and agencies flooded into the normally quiet neighborhood to assist the two deputies needing assistance.

A Bearcat Tactical Rescue Vehicle from Corona Police Department was requested to the residence to assist the deputies and other responding law enforcement officers in bringing the confrontation to a safe conclusion. The tactical vehicle was driven right up to the front of the home to provide cover and protection to the law enforcement officers.

During the standoff, a Riverside Police helicopter circled overhead, relaying vital information to officers on the ground.

According to Munoz, no further information was immediately available and a press release would be released as the investigation continued.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]