A Tulare County sheriff's deputy was shot and killed Thursday morning in Porterville while serving an eviction notice, turning a routine court action into a deadly ambush. The deputy was rushed to a local hospital but did not survive, and authorities have launched a multiagency manhunt for the gunman.
Deputies were in the area of Newcomb and Grand avenues around 10:20 a.m. when 60-year-old David Morales allegedly opened fire, hitting one deputy, according to CBS Sacramento. The deputy was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Officials have not yet released the deputy’s name.
Police Response and Search
Sheriff Mike Boudreaux urged neighbors to shelter in place as law enforcement flooded the neighborhood, with multiple SWAT teams clearing homes and searching for the suspect. Officials said shots were still being fired into the afternoon, according to the Associated Press, turning the normally quiet Porterville streets into an active tactical zone.
Schools near the scene were placed on lockdown as a precaution while negotiators and tactical crews worked methodically through the area, trying to contain the situation and locate Morales.
What Investigators Say
Investigators told the Associated Press that Morales had fallen behind on rent for roughly 35 days and was reportedly expecting a final eviction notice. Sheriff Boudreaux said the suspect "laid in wait" and opened fire when deputies arrived to carry out the eviction.
Community Impact
Residents were asked to avoid the area while crisis teams and tactical units cleared nearby properties, and a heavy law-enforcement presence remained in the neighborhood, according to CBS Sacramento. Anyone in the immediate area was warned to follow officers' instructions and stay indoors until authorities declared the scene secure.
The Tulare County Sheriff's Office and partner agencies said the investigation is active and that more information will be released as it becomes available. This remains a developing story.
