UPDATE: Investigation continuing after deputy fatally shoots Cottonwood man, 65

June 2, 2020 Trevor Montgomery

UPDATED: Friday, June 5, 1:45 p.m.

See Original and Updated Stories below.

COTTONWOOD, Calif. — Officials have identified a man who was fatally shot by law enforcement officers during a disturbance/shooting investigation on the 22000 block of Adobe Rd., in the unincorporated community of Cottonwood Tuesday, June 2.

Officials had previously reported the deadly incident began when the alleged suspect discharged a weapon during a dispute with another person residing on the same property, and then later confronted officials while still holding the weapon; described earlier as a rifle or shotgun.

“The subject was pronounced deceased at the scene by emergency personnel,” Shasta County Chief Deputy Coroner Lt. Gunsauls has since reported. “The decedent was positively identified as 65-year-old, Robert James Lyon, of Cottonwood.”

The man’s next-of-kin has been notified and a postmortem examination will be scheduled, according to Gunsauls.

The case remains under investigation by the Redding Police Department.

UPDATED: Tuesday, June 2, 2:45 p.m.

See Original Story below.

COTTONWOOD, Calif. — Details are beginning to emerge after a deadly shooting involving a Shasta County sheriff’s deputy who opened fire on a firearm-wielding man earlier today, Tuesday, June 2.

The fatal incident occurred after the deceased man allegedly broke into a woman’s trailer and discharged several rounds, before later confronting deputies while still holding the firearm, Shasta County Sheriff’s Cpt. Pat Kropholler has since reported.

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Shasta County Sheriff’s Deputies and CHP officers were dispatched to the 22000 block of Adobe Rd., in the unincorporated community of Cottonwood around 10:39 a.m., after SHASCOM emergency dispatchers received an incomplete 911 call, according to Kropholler.

The large property, which has several trailers scattered about, is located southeast of Balls Ferry and Panorama roads, and south of Anderson.

When officials arrived in the rural neighborhood they contacted a woman who said a 65-year-old man had come to her trailer with a gun and fired several shots after breaking into her home. She was not struck by the gunfire, according to officials now investigating the deadly incident.

Although the pair lived in separate homes on the same property, Kropholler did not say how or if the woman and man knew each other prior to today’s incident or specify what may have led to the initial break-in and gunfire.

Officials are continuing to work at the scene of a deadly shooting involving a deputy who fatally shot a 65-year-old man in Cottonwood this morning. The deceased subject was holding either a rifle or shotgun when the deadly encounter happened. KRCR News Channel 7 image

Although deputies attempted to contact the alleged gunman from his driveway – hailing him with a loudspeaker and ordering him to exit his trailer and comply with officials at the scene – the man initially refused and remained inside his home.

At some point, the man exited the home armed with either a shotgun or rifle, according to Kropholler; who said deputies called several times for the man to drop his weapon.

Fearing for his safety, one deputy at the scene opened fire; discharging his weapon five or six times, killing the man, the Lt. explained.

After the deadly shooting, Cal Fire officials quickly managed to extinguish a small fire on the property reportedly ignited by the gunman, according to Kropholler; who did not specify if the fire was an attempt to cause property damage or was simply an unauthorized burn pile.

Kropholler later reported no deputies or other citizens were injured in the shooting and that officials have responded to other recent problems in the area due to numerous complaints about suspected drug activities.

Roads in the area are expected to be closed for several hours while officials continue their initial investigation.

This is a developing story that will be updated as new information is available.

Original Story: BREAKING: Officials at scene of deadly deputy-involved Cottonwood shooting

COTTONWOOD, Calif. — Although no details have been released, official radio traffic indicates authorities are continuing to work at the scene of a deadly shooting.

The fatal encounter, which involved at least one Shasta County sheriff’s deputy and a rifle-wielding man, happened at a private Cottonwood residence this morning, Tuesday, June 2.

Deputies were dispatched to a property on the 22000 block of Adobe Rd., southeast of Balls Ferry and Panorama roads and south of Anderson, around 10:30 a.m. after SHASCOM emergency dispatchers received an incomplete 911 call.

According to radio traffic, after arriving at the scene deputies attempted to contact a male subject; at which time a shooting occurred.

Coroner officials are headed to the scene and several streets in the area have been closed to through traffic.

Due to the early nature of the ongoing investigation, no information regarding what led to the shooting has been released and no further details were immediately available.

This is a developing story that will be updated as new information is available.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta 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, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s 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.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 29 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 16 grandchildren.