More details released after pursuit ends in fatal Temecula deputy-involved shooting

TEMECULA, Calif. — Authorities say an armed and wanted man who was being sought by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department for assault with a deadly weapon was fatally shot by a deputy at the end of a high-speed vehicle pursuit Tuesday afternoon, June 15th.  

The deadly shooting happened when the alleged suspect fled from his vehicle while armed with a handgun on Interstate 215, south of Ethanac Road, according to officials.  

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Yesterday’s incident began around 4:40 p.m. when Border Patrol agents working routine patrol, in plain clothes and driving unmarked patrol vehicles, encountered a suspect who they had been informed was armed and wanted out of Ventura County, Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Deanna Pecoraro has since said of the shooting.

“The suspect was driving southbound on Interstate 15, near Lake Elsinore,” Pecoraro explained. “Agents followed the suspect for several minutes before he exited the highway and parked at a gas station.”

Officials worked at he scene long into the evening after a fatal deputy-involved shooting at the end of a dangerous, high-speed pursuit that traveled through multiple cities and communities on Tuesday. RVC News photo

“When agents attempted to take the man into custody, he drove his vehicle toward the agents and struck two Border Patrol vehicles as he fled the area,” the Sgt. continued; adding that at that time Border Patrol requested assistance from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

About ten minutes later at around 4:50 p.m., deputies from the Southwest Sheriff’s Station, along with deputies assigned to the Special Enforcement Bureau, located the wanted suspect’s vehicle in the city of Temecula.

Deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop at which time the suspect failed to yield and accelerated away from deputies at a high rate of speed.

“Deputies initiated a pursuit that travelled through multiple different areas within Temecula and Menifee before heading onto Interstate 215, travelling both north and south, and at times reaching high rates of speed into oncoming traffic,” explained Pecoraro.

As the pursuit continued northbound on Interstate 215, the vehicle began to slow down before coming to a stop near the center median, just south of Ethanac Road.

“The suspect fled the vehicle on foot, jumped over the center median and ran into the southbound lanes of Interstate 215 armed with a handgun,” said Pecoraro. “At that time, a deputy involved shooting occurred.”

“Deputies immediately rendered medical aid to the suspect who was transported to a local hospital,” Pecoraro continued. “While at the hospital, the suspect’s health declined and he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.”

An Investigator from the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office has assumed lead in this investigation, and will be aided by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Force Investigations Detail. 

No deputies or other citizens were injured as a result of the shooting.

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The involved deputies will be placed on administrative leave per Department policy and their names were not released.

The shooting investigation is active and ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact District Attorney Investigator Munoz at (951)955-2777 or Investigator Gomez at (951) 955-2777. Callers can refer to incident file number TE21166140 and can remain anonymous.  

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



  Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 49, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).

Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County-based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.

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.