Crime & Safety

Suspect Killed In Officer-Involved Shooting After Brandishing A Shotgun

A suspect died at the scene in the 32000 block of Rome Hill Road in Lakeland Village.

3/28 UPDATE: "Questions Remain Over Fatal Shooting In Lakeland Village"

3/25 10:30 p.m. UPDATE:

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The Riverside County Coroner's Office has released the age and time of death of the man who was shot and killed by a Riverside County Sheriff's Department deputy this morning.

The man was a 58-year-old Lake Elsinore resident, the report stated. He was wounded in the 32000 block of Rome Hill Road in Lakeland Village at 7:06 a.m. He died at 7:39 a.m.

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The fatal shooting occurred as officers from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department South West Corridor Narcotics Task Force were in the process of serving a narcotics search warrant.

According to a sheriff's report, the man brandished a shotgun before being shot.

No law enforcement officers were injured.

The coroner's office is withholding the man's identity pending notification of next of kin.

3/25 3:45 p.m. UPDATE:

According to a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department news release, the man who was shot and killed this morning by a deputy in Lakeland Village brandished a shotgun before he was fatally wounded.

“During the service of the warrant, one suspect was shot after brandishing a shotgun at one of the deputies,” the news release stated.

The shooting occurred at approximately 7 a.m. as officers from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department South West Corridor Narcotics Task Force were serving a narcotics search warrant to a residence in the 32000 block of Rome Hill Road.

According to the news release, “deputies on scene immediately requested paramedics and ambulance to provide medical attention. Members of Cal Fire and American Medical Response arrived on scene within minutes and attempted to revive the suspect. All medical attempts were unsuccessful and the suspect was pronounced deceased at the scene. The name of the deceased is being withheld, pending positive identification and notification of next of kin.”

Investigators from Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Lake Elsinore Station and Central Homicide Unit have assumed the investigation.

The officer involved in the shooting is a Deputy Sheriff assigned to the Southwest Corridor Narcotics Task Force and is a 10-year veteran of the department. Per Riverside County Sheriff's Department policy, the deputy will be placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

This morning's incident occurred within close proximity to Lakeland Village School, which left some parents concerned about the timing of events.

"I dropped my kids off at 7:30 this morning," said Jennifer Price, the mother of two Lakeland Village School students. "It's crazy. They should have waited to do this. I know they have to do their job, but they should put the kids first."

Lakeland Village School parent Tiffany Rogers also expressed concern.

"I would rather see them do this in the middle of the night," she said.

Mark Dennis, Lake Elsinore Unified School District coordinator of community and media relations said the school was assured by law enforcement officials this morning that there was no danger to students. The class bell was 7:50 a.m. The school was not put on lockdown.

3/25 11 a.m. UPDATE:

A man suspected of possessing illegal drugs was shot and killed by an officer with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department Friday morning in Lakeland Village.

The shooting occurred at approximately 7 a.m. as officers from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department were serving a narcotics search warrant to a residence in the 32000 block of Rome Hill Road.

According to Riverside County Sheriff's Department spokesman Sgt. Joe Borja, who arrived on the scene after the incident, "This was an officer-involved shooting. The Southwest Corridor Task Force was attempting to serve a narcotics search warrant. One suspect was shot and he died at the scene.

"The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time," the sergeant continued, noting that no other suspects are being sought at this time and there is no threat to residents in the area.

Arthur Biller, a nearby resident who has lived in the area for about four years, said he heard two gunshots at approximately 7:10 a.m.

"I heard shots but I didn't see anything," he said. "There are a lot of problems on this street with drugs."

Darla Schofield lives on Rome Hill Road and said she tries to keep to herself, but acknowledged that police regularly patrol the area.

"I didn't see anything," she said. "I heard noises around 3:30 this morning, but I don't know what they were. This is a bad street."

Officials from the Lake Elsinore Unified School District confirmed that Lakeland Village School, located approximately one block from where the shooting took place, was not under lockdown during the incident.

"There was never a threat to our students," said Lake Elsinore Unified School District's Mark Dennis, coordinator of community and media relations.

3/25 ORIGINAL POST:

Police are reporting that an officer-involved shooting took place in Lakeland Village Friday morning.

According to Corporal Courtney Donowho, public information officer for the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, the incident took place this morning in the 32000 block of Rome Hill. Police are on the scene.

Lake Elsinore Unified School District's Mark Dennis, coordinator of community and media relations, said there have been no disruptions to nearby Lakeland Village School as a result of the activity.

Further updates to follow.


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