UPDATE #2: TEMECULA: Officer-involved shooting leaves one dead at county complex
UPDATE #2: 11/15/2016
Deputies and other sheriff’s officials rushed to the scene of the fatal officer-involved shooting. Western Eagle/Eddie George photo
TEMECULA – A parking lot confrontation between a couple resulted in a man being fatally shot by a deputy Tuesday, Nov. 15.
The shooting happened about 10:31 a.m., in the Walt P. Abraham County Administration complex in the 41000 block of County Center Drive in Temecula, according to a sheriff official.
A deputy from the Riverside Sheriff’s Court Services Division responded to a report of a loud argument between a man and woman in the parking lot of the complex, according to Riverside Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Deputy Michael Vasquez. When the deputy arrived, he located a male who was being “verbally abusive with a family member,” Vasquez wrote in a press release about the deadly encounter.
“The deputy attempted to intervene and asked the male suspect to follow his directions; however, he refused,” Vasquez explained. “During the confrontation, the suspect brandished a knife, moved toward the deputy in a threatening manner, and an officer involved shooting occurred.”
Deputies at the scene of the shooting immediately put out a radio call for emergency assistance and began providing life saving measures to the mortally wounded suspect.
One ambulance remained at the scene after the deputy was transported to an area hospital. Will Whelan photo
Cal Fire and paramedics from American Medical Response arrived and provided medical treatment to the suspect; however the man, who has not been identified, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The man’s identity has not been released pending notification of next of his family.
The deputy involved in the shooting incident sustained non-life-threatening injuries and he was transported to a local area hospital where he received treatment for his injuries. Sheriff’s officials have not specified the nature or extent of the deputies injuries. He was later released.
The deputy involved in the shooting was placed on administrative leave per department policy. The involved deputy’s name will not be released at this time.
Numerous investigators and sheriff’s officials responded to the scene of the officer-involved shooting. Aric Bell photo
Investigators from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit and Temecula Police Department responded to the location of the deadly shooting and assumed the investigation.
“This is an active investigation and no additional details are available at this time,” court services Vasquez said.
Anyone with information regarding the incident or who witnessed the shooting is encouraged to contact Central Homicide Investigator Navarrete at (951) 955-2777 or Temecula Police Department Investigator Pemberton at (951) 696-3000. Callers can refer to incident file number CT163200002 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.
UPDATE #1:
Public Information Officer Deputy Mike Vasquez prepares to make a statement regarding the deadly shooting. Aric Bell photo
Riverside County Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Deputy Mike Vasquez provided an update to this morning’s officer involved shooting.
“At this point we can confirm that a deputy was not shot,” Vasquez said. “He was injured; however, we do not have the extent of his injuries at this point.”
Vasquez could not provide any information regarding the specific nature of the injuries the deputy might have sustained, citing the active investigation. However, he confirmed, “The deputy was transported from the scene and is no longer here.”
Other media outlets and witnesses reported that the subject involved in the shooting was fatally wounded and succumbed to his injuries at the scene. His body could be seen inside the parking lot of the Walt P. Abraham County Administrative Center on County Center Drive in Temecula.
Investigators from the sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit and Temecula Police Station have been summoned to the scene to assume the investigation. They are being assisted by the District Attorney’s Office, forensic technicians and coroner’s officials.
The complex and area surrounding where the shooting occurred is expected to remain closed for at least eight hours, according to Vasquez.
Attn media: we can confirm an Officer involved shootn occurred in Temecula.. OFFICER WAS NOT SHOT …. further info 2 follow
— Media Info Bureau (@RSOmedia) November 15, 2016
ORIGINAL STORY
The shooting shut down countless business and government buildings for the day. Western Eagle/Eddie George photo
TEMECULA – Very few details are known yet, after a Riverside County sheriff’s deputy was involved in a shooting incident that occurred this morning about 10:30 a.m. The shooting happened at an unknown location on County Center Drive near Ynez Road.
Several city and government buildings are located at the Walt P. Abraham County Administrative Center on County Center Drive.
Some of the affected businesses and government buildings that were closed during the investigation included the Temecula Mental Health Clinic; Riverside County Probation; Temecula’s Traffic Court; Women, Infants and Children office; Grace Mellman Community Library; and the Riverside County Office of Economic Development.
Valley News reporters, who were on scene within minutes of the reported shooting, observed officers and deputies flooding into the area. Paramedics could be seen working on two subjects before one person was transported in an ambulance to a local area hospital for treatment. It was not immediately known if the ambulance was transporting an injured deputy or suspect. One additional ambulance remains at the scene of the shooting.
Central Homicide investigators and other officials converged on the scene of the fatal shooting. Will Whelan photo
A sheriff’s Command Center has been established at an undisclosed location near where the shooting occurred and numerous deputies and other law enforcement officials are at the scene where the shooting happened.
Several streets surrounding the area where the shooting occurred are closed to through traffic. Road closures include northbound Ynez Road from Winchester Road, and County Center Drive between Ynez Road and Equity Drive.
A sheriff official at the scene advised no officers or deputies were shot in the incident. A public information officer was en route to the location and would provide an update as soon as the information became available.
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This is a developing story. More information will be updated as it becomes available.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
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.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, Personnel and Background Investigations and he finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator.
Trevor has been married for more than 26 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 12 – soon to be 13 – grandchildren.