Deputies fatally shoot rifle-wielding man at La Quinta City Hall

LA QUINTA, Calif. — Authorities say a rifle-wielding man was fatally shot by deputies at the La Quinta City Hall on the 78000 block of Calle Tampico, Thursday afternoon, Sept. 24.

Officials now investigating the deadly incident have not yet stated if it was known why the man had gone to the public building with a rifle or what his motives were.

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Deputies assigned to the Thermal Sheriff’s Station were dispatched to the La Quinta City Hall just before 1:30 p.m., after receiving information regarding a man with a gun in the courtyard, Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Lionel Murphy has since said of the deadly incident.

La Quinta Mayor Linda Evans later said a city staffer encountered the rifle-wielding man outside the building, KESQ reported after the fatal shooting. The employee immediately went back inside “and triggered the city’s active shooter protocols,” according to Evans.

Deputies who swarmed on La Quinta City Hall after the city’s active shooter protocol was activated encountered a man armed with a rifle, fatally shooting him. KESQ News Channel 7 photo

Deputies who converged on the City Hall’s courtyard quickly spotted a man armed with a rifle, according to the Sgt.

“The suspect pointed the rifle at the deputies and a deputy involved shooting occurred,” said Murphy; adding, “One of the two involved deputies fired at the suspect striking him.”

Deputies immediately began providing medical aid to the man performing life-saving measures and he was transported to a nearby hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries and passed away.

The gunman’s name has not been released pending further investigation and notification of the man’s family.

A rifle was recovered at the scene, according to Murphy; who said, “There are no outstanding suspects and there is no danger to the public.”

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Investigators from the Force Investigations Detail, consisting of the Riverside County District Attorney Investigators and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Central Homicide Unit, responded and assumed the investigation. Riverside County District Attorney’s Office Investigators will be primary on the investigation.

The deputies involved in this incident, whose names have not been released, have been placed on administrative leave in accordance with department policy.

No deputies were injured during the deadly encounter.

“This is an active and ongoing investigation with no further details available at this time,” said Murphy.

The Force Investigations Detail encourages anyone with information regarding this incident to contact D.A. Investigator Steve Paixao at 760-863-8216 or Investigator Dickey at 951-955-7777. Callers can refer to incident file number LA202680035 and can remain anonymous. 

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

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KESQ News Channel 3 images above, video below.

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Trevor Montgomery, 49, 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 30 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 18 grandchildren.

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