An incident on Monday night in Apple Valley has left an 18-year-old resident, Elijah Brown, hospitalized after being shot by San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputies following an alleged break-in attempt. According to NBC Los Angeles, law enforcement responded to the 10700 block of Central Road around 10 p.m. after receiving a call about a break-in. Brown, who matched the description from the call, was detained and claimed to reside at the location when three individuals quickly emerged from the home, prompting deputies to open fire.
During the encounter, "There was a lot of yelling at first and a lot of police activity, and then a fire truck and an ambulance," local resident Jennifer White told NBC Los Angeles. This disruption unfolded rapidly, leading to a lethal force encounter broadly detailed in a release from the Sheriff-Coroner Department, which was initiated after Brown was seen with a large knife.
The Specialized Investigations Division is currently investigating the sequence of events that led to the use of lethal force. Brown was transported to a hospital and is reported to be in stable condition. His role in the incident remains unclear, as the investigation is ongoing, and he has yet to be interviewed, according to the Sheriff's release.
Authorities are seeking information from the public regarding the incident and have requested that anyone with knowledge reach out directly to the Specialized Investigations Division at 909-890-4904. The release further states, "Callers wishing to remain anonymous should contact We-Tip at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or go to wetip.com."
