WOODCREST: Rock-throwing, knife-wielding man fatally shot by deputy
WOODCREST – A rock-throwing and knife-wielding man was fatally shot by a sheriff deputy during a vandalism investigation Wednesday, March 8.
Numerous deputies and other officials immediately began flooding into the area after the shooting. Loudlabs News photo
The deadly encounter happened in a residential neighborhood in the 15800 block of Wood Road in the unincorporated community of Woodcrest. The neighborhood is north of Van Buren Boulevard and west of Trautwein Road.
At about 3:49 p.m., a deputy from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Perris station responded to the neighborhood after receiving a report of a felony vandalism occurring in the area, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Chris Durham explained in a press release after the deadly shooting.
The release did not specify the nature of the vandalism or details about the property being vandalized.
“During the course of the investigation, the deputy located the male suspect and attempted to speak with him,” Durham explained. “The suspect immediately became combative and began throwing large rocks, which struck the deputy.”
Durham did not specify if the deputy was injured or required medical treatment from being struck with the hurled rocks.
Sheriff’s officials discuss the deadly shooting incident. Loudlabs News photo
At least one parked vehicle was damaged during the rock-throwing.
In spite of being hit by one or more rocks, “the deputy ordered the suspect to comply with his commands, and the suspect refused,” Durham explained.
“The suspect then armed himself with a knife and advanced toward the deputy,” Durham continued. “The suspect refused verbal commands to drop the knife and a deputy involved shooting occurred.”
The release did not specify how many rounds the deputy fired or how many times the suspect was struck.
After the shooting, the deputy immediately put out an emergency call for assistance and summoned medical personnel to respond to provide aid to the mortally wounded suspect. The deputy then began administering first aid and life-saving measures.
Numerous deputies and other emergency first responders began arriving in the area within minutes. The number of sheriff’s officials who responded to the scene swelled to dozens within an hour of the shooting.
Forensics technicians from the department’s Forensic Services Bureau collected evidence at the scene of the fatal shooting. Loudlabs News photo
American Medical Response medics transported the man to a local area hospital where he succumbed to his wound(s) and was pronounced dead by hospital staff.
The suspect’s name has not yet been released, pending notification of the man’s family.
Investigators from the Perris station and the department’s Central Homicide Unit responded and assumed the investigation. Sheriff’s officials were still at the scene several hours later as their investigation into the fatal shooting continued. Officials were expected to remain throughout the evening.
Several areas were cordoned off throughout the day while sheriff’s investigators, forensic technicians, and other officials searched for, photographed and documented, and collected evidence related to the shooting as well as the moments preceding it.
Wood Road is expected to remain closed in both directions from Beagle Lane to Van Buren Boulevard throughout the night while Investigators conduct their investigation
The involved deputy, whose name was not released, was placed on administrative leave per department policy.
No other deputies or citizens were injured during the shooting.
The investigation is an active and ongoing.
Anyone with information regarding the incident or who witnessed the shooting is encouraged to contact Central Homicide Investigator Alfaro at (760) 393-3528 or Investigator Wyatt at (951) 210-1000. Callers can refer to incident file number PC170670024 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.
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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.
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.