A deputy-involved shooting took place on Wednesday evening in Temecula after a family dispute led to a suspect allegedly acting erratically and engaging in destructive behavior. According to a press release from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, the incident began with a call to Sheriff's Dispatch concerning an unauthorized family member who had forced entry into a home on the 32200 block of Cask Lane, while a woman and her son were inside.
Exiting the residence, the suspect was reported by the party reporting to have broken vehicle windows and initiated a fire, behavior continued in the parking lot. Arriving deputies found the suspect inside the smoldering vehicle, refusing to comply with orders to exit and throwing a metal object at them, which led to the shooting, as reported by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. The identity of the suspect, who was shot and remains hospitalized in stable condition, has not been released.
While the suspect was not compliant and reportedly aggressive, medical aid was promptly rendered by the deputies until paramedics arrived, ensuring the suspect's survival. As per their policy, the deputies involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave. It has been confirmed that during the confrontation, none of the deputies sustained injuries, as detailed by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.
No further details about the shooting will be divulged while the investigation is pending, a move to ensure the integrity of the process. Anyone with information on the incident is urged to call either District Attorney Investigator Ivan Ostarcevic or Riverside Sheriff’s Master Investigator David Sandoval at 951-955-2777.
