New details & video of fatal Palm Desert shooting released
UPDATED: Thursday, Aug. 6, 1:30 p.m.
Originally published June 23
See Original Story below.
PALM DESERT, Calif. — In a video update released this morning, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco provided further details and information about a deadly deputy-involved shooting that happened at a Palm Desert gun store last June.
In the video, which can be viewed below, Bianco discusses what led to the shooting; which happened at Coachella Valley Guns & Ammo on the 41000 block of Boardwalk, east of Cook St.
Bianco also explained various aspects of the shooting, while providing CCTV surveillance footage that showed a man driving his vehicle through the front of the business before exiting the store and confronting deputies with what the Sheriff described as “a highly realistic-looking pellet gun replica of a semi-automatic rifle.”
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Deputies initially responded to the business around 10:30 p.m., June 22, after receiving reports of a glass break alarm and possible burglary at the store, Riverside Sheriff’s spokesperson Correctional Sergeant Deanna Pecoraro reported shortly after the fatal encounter.
While deputies were still responding to the scene the business’ owner called 911 and reported that someone had driven a vehicle through the front of the store and was inside the business.
Surveillance video from the business showed a man first “scouting the location” before getting into a white vehicle and repeatedly ramming his way into the store. RSO video screen shot
When deputies began arriving at the scene they discovered an unoccupied vehicle, which had been rammed through the front of the business and immediately established a perimeter around the store.
“Our deputies responded to the business and found a vehicle that had crashed into the front of the business,” Bianco explained in the video.
“Security camera footage captured the male suspect scouting the location and then repeatedly ramming his vehicle into the front of the building to gain entry,” said Bianco, while referencing the provided security footage.
33-year-old, Aaron Grenados, of Palm Desert, can be seen on CCTV footage walking through the gun store with what Bianco later described as “a highly realistic-looking pellet gun replica of a semi-automatic rifle.” RSO video screen shot
The security footage, which was later obtained by investigators, then showed the man walking around the inside of the store with what looked like a semi-automatic firearm.
The footage then showed the man climbing out through the wrecked front side of the business while still armed with the weapon.
“When the suspect emerged from the store, he pointed what appeared to be a semi-automatic rifle at the deputies and a deputy-involved shooting occurred,” explained Bianco.
The man, who died at the scene despite life-saving efforts by deputies and paramedics, was later identified as Aaron Solorio Grenados, 33, of Palm Desert.
Grenados can be seen standing outside the front of the damaged business while pointing a pellet gun at deputies, who opened fire when the man refused to drop the weapon. RSO video screen shot
Body-worn camera footage from one of the involved deputies, which was also included in the video release, showed the deputies confronting the man as he exited the store.
Deputies can be heard on the body cam video issuing numerous loud verbal commands for the man to stop, drop the weapon and put his hands up.
The man apparently ignored the deputies and continued pointing the weapon at them.
Over the next 30 seconds deputies can be heard firing approximately eleven rounds from at least two weapons, one of which was described as a .12 gauge shotgun.
“When we have a deputy-involved shooting, multiple investigations are automatically launched,” Bianco explained in the video release.
“In this incident, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department will handle the investigation of the original call, Mr. Granados’ actions when he exited the gun store, and the deputy-involved shooting,” Bianco continued.
Saying, “We take the use of force very seriously and make every effort to de-escalate these situations whenever possible,” Bianco explained, “This incident, as are all deputy-involved shootings, will ultimately be reviewed by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. Additionally, our department will internally review and evaluate the actions of our deputies with our policy and training standards.”
The shooting remains under investigation and the DA’s Office has not yet reviewed the department’s final findings.
Original Story: Rifle-wielding man who rammed his way into Palm Desert gun store fatally shot after encountering deputies
PALM DESERT, Calif. — A man who officials say repeatedly rammed a vehicle into a Palm Desert business before confronting deputies while apparently armed with a weapon was fatally shot by deputies late Monday evening, June 22.
The deadly encounter happened at Coachella Valley Guns & Ammo on the 41000 block of Boardwalk, east of Cook St.
Deputies from the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station were dispatched to the gun store around 10:30 p.m., after receiving reports of a glass break alarm and possible burglary at the business, Riverside Sheriff’s spokesperson Correctional Sgt. Deanna Pecoraro has since said of the fatal deputy-involved shooting.
While deputies were still responding to the scene the business’ owner called 911 and reported that someone had driven a vehicle through the front of the store and was inside the business.
When deputies began arriving at the scene they discovered an unoccupied vehicle, which had been rammed through the front of the business, and immediately established a perimeter around the store.
“Shortly after the perimeter was established, an adult male, armed with a firearm, exited the front of the business and a deputy involved shooting occurred,” Pecoraro has since reported.
Although deputies and Cal Fire paramedics attempted to render aid to the man, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The man’s name has not been released, pending further investigation and notification of his family.
Investigators from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Force Investigations Detail and Palm Desert Station responded and assumed the investigation.
The deputies involved in the deadly shooting were placed on administrative leave per Department policy, and their names will not be released at this time, according to Pecoraro; who said the shooting investigation is active and ongoing.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Investigator Dickey at (951) 955-2777. Callers can refer to incident file number T201740125 and can remain anonymous.
This is a developing story that will be updated as new information becomes available.
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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.
Wow. Suicide by cop. Horrible.
Im sorry to the officers that were forced to do this due to this mans actions. Sad for everyone involved.