Riverside double-slaying suspect killed in shootout with officials during warrant service

Officials from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Crime Scene Unit spent the day processing evidence at the scene of this morning’s deadly shootout between Fresno County sheriff’s deputies, FCSD SWAT members, and U.S. Marshal Service officials. Fresno County Sheriff Department courtesy photo

FRESNO – A man who was wanted in connection with murdering two men and seriously injuring a third victim was fatally shot during an early-morning warrant service in Fresno County Wednesday, Dec. 21. The deadly shooting happened in the 600 block of W. College Avenue in Coalinga.

The man, who has not been officially identified pending notification of his family, died when he was shot by a SWAT member after exiting the home while armed with a handgun. The suspect immediately began firing at Fresno County Sheriff and U.S. Marshall Service officials.

The deadly encounter happened after members of the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team assisted the U.S. Marshals Service in serving a search warrant at the College Avenue residence, according to Fresno County Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Tony Botti.

Officials served the search warrant at the residence after they received information that the 24-year-old man, who was a suspect in an Oct. 23, 2015 double-homicide investigation in the City of Riverside, was living at the home.

“Deputies surrounded the home and made announcements for those inside to come out and surrender,” Botti explained. “A short time later, a man came out of the house with a handgun and began firing toward deputies.”

A member of the sheriff’s SWAT team returned fire, fatally striking the suspect.

A SWAT paramedic who was already on scene immediately gave the suspect medical treatment and attempted life-saving measures; however, the suspect succumbed to his injuries and he was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.

“Fresno County Sheriff’s homicide detectives responded to the scene and assumed the investigation. Sheriff’s officials are working with members of the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service and Riverside Police Department on this investigation,” according to Botti.

Sheriff’s officials from the sheriff’s Crime Scene Unit spent the day at the scene of the fatal shooting, collecting evidence from the home and conducting interviews with others who were inside the residence when the gunfire erupted.

There were three adults and two small children inside the residence when the shooting happened, according to Botti. There were no other reported injuries to citizens or law enforcement officers.

Coroner’s 0fficials took custody of the suspect’s body and are working with Riverside PD officials and others to positively identify the man and notify his family.

The original triple-shooting and double-homicide that led to today’s fatal encounter happened Friday, Oct. 23, 2015.

Riverside police officers responded to the corner of 7th Street and Kansas Avenue in the Eastside neighborhood of Riverside after several 911 callers reported a shooting at the intersection just after 9:30 p.m.

When officers arrived, they found three victims down on the ground. All were suffering from gunshot wounds.

The first victim, Juan Antonio Bartola, died at the scene of the shooting. The second victim, Domingo Esteban, was transported to a nearby hospital where he also died from his injuries. The third victim was transported to a local hospital and is still recovering from his injuries. All three men were residents of Riverside at the time of the deadly shooting.

In September 2016, almost one year after the double-slaying, Riverside PD officials profiled five recent murders they were trying to solve, including the murders of Bartola and Esteban. In that request for the public’s help, police officials provided video surveillance footage of a man they believed was involved in the triple shooting.

It was not immediately known if the suspect shown in the video was the same man killed in this morning’s shootout in Fresno County.

 

This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as they become available.

 

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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.