Videos of deputies shooting rifle-wielding man outside sheriff’s sub-station released
UPDATED: Friday, Nov. 13, 11:30 a.m.
See Original Story below.
LA QUINTA, Calif. — Authorities today released body-worn camera footage of a deadly shooting involving a rifle-wielding man that happened outside a Riverside County Sheriff’s Sub-Station at the La Quinta City Hall last September.
The suspect, since identified as Randy Fedorchuk, 65, of La Quinta, was killed in the shooting and a semi-automatic, assault-type rifle was recovered at the scene.
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In a Critical Incident video released by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, (which can be viewed below), Sheriff Chad Bianco discussed and explained some of the details that led to the fatal encounter.
In the video release, Bianco shared two separate videos obtained from deputies’ body-worn cameras that showed the moments that led to the deadly incident, as well as the confrontation that ultimately led to the suspect’s fatal shooting.
Video obtained from one of the involved deputies’ body-worn cameras shows the deputy confronting the rifle-wielding suspect from a mere 10 to 20 feet. Moments later, a second deputy opened fire on the man, killing him. RSO image
Bianco explained that on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 24, a man called 911 and reported seeing a subject armed with a rifle.
In the 911 recording shared by Bianco, the man can be heard telling emergency dispatchers that he could see another man armed with a rifle in a courtyard shared by La Quinta City Hall, other government buildings and a sheriff’s sub-station.
Officials later determined that it was Fedorchuk himself who made the initial 911 call reporting the incident that ultimately led to his death.
Deputies’ body cameras then showed two deputies watching the rifle-wielding man from inside the sub-station and calmly reporting what they were seeing to emergency dispatchers.
“He has a rifle with him,” one deputy can be heard telling dispatchers in the Critical Incident video.
“He seems agitated …and… he’s walking back and forth,” the deputy continued, while he and the second deputy formulated a plan to confront the man; including asking dispatchers for air support and a K9.
At one point the deputies noticed Fedorchuk had lowered his rifle and was no longer holding it in a threatening manner and decided to confront him.
However, the moment deputies walked out of the relative safety of their sub-station, Fedorchuk immediately re-shouldered his rifle in a shooting position and began to advance toward the door of the sub-station where the deputies were still exiting the building.
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Both deputies, who were armed with handguns, can be heard loudly and repeatedly ordering Fedorchuk to drop his rifle and put his hands up.
As the deputies continued to confront Fedorchuk from a distance of 10 to 20 feet, the suspect can be seen advancing toward the second deputy with his rifle shouldered and ready to fire.
Less than 12 seconds after initially confronting Fedorchuck, one of the deputies opened fire, discharging two rounds. At least one of the rounds struck the suspect, knocking him to the ground.
Officers recovered a semi-automatic, assault-style rifle dropped by the suspect who was killed in last September’s shooting. RSO image
As the deputies rushed to secure Fedorchuk’s rifle and take him into custody, one of the deputies can be heard reporting the shooting and asking for emergency medical services to treat the critically wounded and dying man.
At the same time Fedorchuk is heard asking the deputies to kill him; to which one of the deputies says “No” and begins treating the injured gunman for his gunshot wounds. Deputies continued treating Fedorchuk while waiting for paramedics to arrive and assume life-saving efforts.
Fedorchuk was ultimately transported to a nearby hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries and passed away.
District Attorney’s Office Investigators are heading up the ongoing investigation, with assistance from Sheriff’s Force Investigations Detail and Central Homicide Unit.
Original Story: 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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