Deputy killed after suspect opens fire during eviction in Porterville, California

A Tulare County sheriff’s detective was killed after a man opened fire on officers serving an eviction notice in Porterville, California, according to local authorities. The suspect is barricaded as officers from multiple agencies surround the area.

The shooting began at about 10:20 a.m. on Thursday near Brian Lane and Newcomb Street, where Tulare County Sheriff’s Office detectives were serving an eviction notice when the suspect, 60-year-old David Morales, opened fire, Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said.

Boudreaux said multiple shots were exchanged between Morales and the detectives at the start of the incident. Within minutes, Porterville police officers and sheriff’s deputies arrived to help.

There was then a pause of about 15 minutes before Morales came back out and began firing again, this time exchanging gunfire with both the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office and the Porterville Police Department.

One detective was shot and had to be pulled out in a tactical rescue carried out by sheriff’s deputies and Porterville police officers. He was taken to Sierra View District Hospital, where he died at 11:57 a.m., Boudreaux confirmed.

The sheriff did not release the detective’s name, but said he was a Tulare County Sheriff’s Office detective. Boudreaux said the officer was a father, and that his wife is four months pregnant.

Authorities said the case had become a homicide investigation. Boudreaux said Morales is a Porterville resident who was renting the home and was being removed after failing to pay rent.

The sheriff said Morales was known to law enforcement and appeared to have armed himself with a high powered rifle and waited for officers before they arrived. Authorities believe he is the only shooter.

Officers are still in active negotiations with Morales, who Boudreaux said was believed to be moving between two houses before being isolated inside one of them. Family members were also trying to persuade him to surrender safely.

Schools in the area have been placed on lockdown and residents are being told to shelter in place or evacuate on their own if they could do so safely. SWAT teams are going door to door to remove people from nearby homes.