Man Killed, Deputy Critically Wounded in Carport Shootout

One man was killed and a Riverside County sheriff’s deputy was critically wounded Thursday during a gun battle at an apartment complex.

The 40-year-old deputy, whose name was not released, was shot shortly after midnight when he answered a call about a suspicious person in a carport at the Sycamore Terrace apartments, Sheriff’s Sgt. Mark Lohman said.

“The deputy gets out to talk to the suspect and tells him to show his hands,” Lohman said. “The suspect then pulls out a small-caliber handgun and fires at the officer. The officer returned fire, striking the suspect, who was dead at the scene.”

The deputy, an eight-year veteran, was shot three times. One bullet struck his finger, another glanced off his protective vest and a third hit him in the chest above the vest.

“Doctors have decided for the time being to leave the bullet in his chest,” Lohman said.

The gunman, who was in his late teens or early 20s, was not carrying identification and authorities are trying to identify him through fingerprints, Lohman said.

A deputy was killed five years ago in another shooting at the Sycamore Terrace apartments.