Armed Man Shot to Death by Two Sheriff’s Deputies

Two sheriff’s deputies shot and killed a Valley Center man after he allegedly pointed a gun at one of the deputies, the Sheriff’s Department reported Sunday.

Deputies Marcos Ramirez and Robert Frankovich went Saturday in separate cars to the 14100 block of Calle de Vista, where a resident had reported that a man was shooting in the direction of his home, the Sheriff’s Department said.

Ramirez, who arrived on the scene first, shortly before 8 p.m., was directed by neighbors to Jose Paulino Bonilla, who was standing in a driveway. When Frankovich arrived, the two deputies approached Bonilla, investigators said.

Ramirez, who has been a deputy for eight years, tried to talk to Bonilla in both English and Spanish, but Bonilla turned and walked away, investigators said.

Bonilla disappeared behind a stand of trees, and the deputies reportedly separated to look for him.

A few seconds later, Bonilla stepped out from behind the trees and faced Ramirez, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

Ramirez told investigators that he saw the butt of a gun protruding from Bonilla’s waistband and ordered him in both English and Spanish to raise his hands.

Bonilla reportedly responded by yelling at the deputies unintelligibly, pulling out his revolver and pointing it at Ramirez.

Both Ramirez and Frankovich, a five-year department veteran, fired at Bonilla, who died at the scene.

Investigators said that Bonilla’s .38-caliber revolver was found to be loaded.

Bonilla, a laborer who lived in the 14000 block of Calle de Vista, died of a gunshot wound to the chest and abdomen, the medical examiner’s office said Sunday. It is unclear, however, how many times he was shot.

Both Ramirez and Frankovich were placed on administrative leave, in accordance with department policy, until an investigation of the shooting is completed.