WILDOMAR: Knife and gun-wielding property manager shot by deputy

WILDOMAR – A property landlord – who was allegedly armed with a knife and a handgun while trying to illegally enter a rental residence – was shot and wounded by a deputy who responded to afternoon reports of the volatile and dangerous incident Friday, May 19. The shooting happened on the 21800 block of Waite Street, east of Almond and west of Orange Streets in Wildomar.

The weapons-wielding property manager was later identified as Anthony Pupora, 49, of Wildomar. “The suspect received non-life threatening injuries as a result of the shooting,” Riverside Sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Armando Muñoz said after the officer-involved shooting and arrest.

Deputies arrested Pupora for negligent discharge of a firearm, false imprisonment and shooting at an inhabited dwelling, according to Muñoz.

When Pupora is released from the hospital he will be booked into the Southwest Detention Center, according to officials.

An online jail records search revealed that as of Saturday afternoon Pupora had not been booked into jail yet.

Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Wildomar Police Station responded to the location, described the property as a multi residential property, about 3:15 p.m.

While deputies were heading to the property they received updated information from emergency dispatchers that an argument between a landlord and a tenant had turned violent and that the landlord was threatening to harm the occupants, while in possession of a firearm and a knife.

When deputies arrived at the location they immediately began to search for the suspect. When they located the man, who was later identified as Pupora, they found he was “still in possession of the firearm and knife, according to Muñoz.

“(Deputies) gave the suspect multiple commands to surrender but he refused,” Munoz explained.

While deputies were trying to engage the armed subject and convince him to put down his weapons, they saw Pupora “fire multiple rounds toward the occupied residence,” said Muñoz. “The officers observed the suspect then point the firearm toward the residence and an officer involved shooting occurred.”

“(Pupora) received non-life threatening injuries as a result of the shooting,” Muñoz continued. “Paramedics treated the suspect at the scene and transported him to a local hospital.”

No deputies involved in the shooting or occupants of the residence were injured during the violent encounter.

After the shooting, Riverside County Sheriff investigators from the Department’s Central Homicide Unit responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.

The deputy involved in the shooting was placed on administrative leave per Department policy and the deputy’s name was not released.

This is an active and ongoing investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation to contact Investigator Navarrete of the Central Homicide Unit at (951) 955-2777 or Investigator Posson of the Lake Elsinore Station at (951) 245-3300. Callers can refer to incident file number WI171390031 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News and Anza Valley Outlook and also writes for Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor 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 and breaking his back in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.