Man Shot to Death by Deputies

A man suspected for domestic violence was shot to death for pointing a handgun at deputies today.

The incident happened around 2 a.m. at a house in the 54000 block of West Hills Road in Anza, according to sheriff’s Cpl. Courtney Donowho.

The identity of the suspect was withheld pending notification of his next of kin.

The sheriff’s department got a call at 12:52 a.m. reporting domestic violence and a shooting in the home, the corporal stated in a written announcement.

Deputies from the Hemet and Temecula stations rushed to the scene and found a man sitting in a vehicle holding a gun to his head.

Deputies tried to talk the man out of the vehicle for almost an hour with no success. The deputies called in the Crisis Negotiation Team and members of the Special Enforcement Bureau, but before they arrived, the man got out and pointed the gun at deputies.

The law enforcers – including two Temecula deputies – shot him down and started rendering him first aid. An ambulance rushed the suspect to the hospital where he died, Donowho said.

The deputies involved were put on administrative leave in accordance with department policy, Donowho said.

Nobody but the suspect was injured in the incident, said Temecula Police Chief Andre O’Harra.

The Riverside County Central Homicide Unit is investigating the incident. Anybody with information was asked to call the unit at 951-791-3400.