Suspect’s name, more details released after fatal wildfire-related shooting of man in Siskiyou County

July 23, 2021 Trevor Montgomery

SISKIYOU COUNTY, Calif., — The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office last week identified a man who was fatally shot by multiple officers from at least three area law enforcement agencies who were working desperately to evacuate Mount Shasta Vista Subdivision homeowners as massive walls of flames from a fast-approaching wildfire bore down on the area.

The deadly shooting, which happened late last month on June 28, occurred at a roadblock at the intersection of Shasta Vista Drive and County Road A-12, in the unincorporated area of Big Springs, where law enforcement and fire personnel were staged and assisting motorists in evacuating from the area.

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At around 8:30 p.m. that June evening, law enforcement officials from multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Etna Police Department and others, were assisting firefighters at the intersection.

“Law enforcement officers closed the southbound lane of County Road A-12 to prevent traffic from entering a fire hazard area in the evacuation zone,” Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office reported shortly after last month’s shooting. “Officers were directing traffic north on County Road A-12 towards Grenada, away from the evacuation zone.”

As evacuation efforts were continuing, officials were approached by a man in a GMC pickup truck, since identified by officials as Hawj Soobleej Kaub, 35, of Kansas City, Kansas.

“Law enforcement officers instructed the driver of the GMC to turn north on County Road A-12 out of the evacuation zone,” SCSO said at the time. “The driver of the GMC ignored numerous directions by officers and attempted to drive around the roadblock and head southbound on County Road A-12 toward the evacuation zone.”

“While the law enforcement officer was communicating with the driver, the driver raised his hand and pointed a semi-auto handgun at the officers,” SCSO continued; saying that law enforcement officials from the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Etna Police Department opened fire on the driver, striking him multiple times.

“In addition to pointing the firearm at officers, initial information indicates the suspect may have fired several rounds from the gun at the officers during the incident,” added SCSO.

Although fire and rescue personnel immediately began treating Kaub for multiple gunshot wounds, he succumbed to his injuries and passed away at the scene.

The local Critical Incident Team ultimately assumed the investigation, which is being led by the Siskiyou County District Attorney’s Office. The officers and deputies involved in the shooting were placed on paid administrative leave pending completion of the officer-involved shooting investigation.

“As reported previously, the Siskiyou County District Attorney’s Office is completing a comprehensive investigation into the Officer-Involved Shooting incident,” SCSO said in a recent update to the ongoing investigation.

“Officer-Involved Shootings are complex investigations that take time to thoroughly investigate,” SCSO continued. “There are certain details surrounding this incident that have not been made public as the investigation is ongoing; however, in the future, once the investigation is completed, a thorough report of the incident will be made public.”

“We ask for your patience and understanding as this investigation is being completed,” SCSO added.

Anyone with additional information related to the incident is encouraged to contact the Siskiyou County District Attorney’s Office as the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office is not handling the investigation. They can be reached at (530) 842-8125.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 50, 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.