UPDATED: Hatchet-wielding man fatally shot by Beaumont officer ID’d

UPDATED: 10/02/2016 1:15 p.m.

BEAUMONT – Riverside County coroner’s officials have identified a man who was shot and killed by a Beaumont police officer Saturday, Sept. 17. The deadly shooting happened in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant in the 1600 block of E. Sixth Street near Highland Springs Avenue in Banning.

According to coroner’s officials the man was identified as Robert Duh, a 42-year-old transient who lived in the Beaumont area. He was fatally wounded at 12:09 p.m. Duh succumbed to his injuries about 40 minutes later, after being transported to San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital. The coroner’s release indicated he was pronounced dead by hospital staff at 12:50 p.m.

The incident began when City of Beaumont emergency dispatchers received reports of a man who was allegedly armed with a hatchet and a stick at a Burger King restaurant at about 12:03 p.m. According to 911 callers, the hatchet-wielding man was approaching patrons who were waiting to order and receive their meals at the drive-through window of the restaurant.

When officers arrived at the restaurant they quickly located Duh, who was allegedly still armed with the hatchet. Officers reportedly ordered Duh to drop the hatchet; however he refused to comply with officers’ commands. When Duh refused to drop the hatchet “an officer involved shooting occurred,” Beaumont police officials said after the deadly shooting.

After being shot, paramedics treated Duh at the scene before transporting him to San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital where he later died.

Officers reportedly recovered Duh’s hatchet at the scene.

One officer, who was not identified, was placed on administrative leave, per department policy.

No officers, restaurant patrons or bystanders were injured during the incident.

After the deadly shooting, officers cordoned off a large area surrounding the restaurant. Nearly one dozen patrol and other official vehicles were seen inside and around the parking lot where the shooting occurred.

Officials from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit responded to the location and assumed the investigation, according to Beaumont police officials.

Police and sheriff’s officials have asked that anyone with information related to this incident contact Investigator Paz of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit at (951) 955-2777 or the Beaumont Police Department at (951) 769-8500. Callers can refer to incident file number 1609B-2425 and can remain anonymous.

 

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Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.