Sister Sticks By Lake Elsinore Man Found Guilty Of Trying To Kill Deputy

In October, a jury convicted a Lake Elsinore man of attempting to murder a sheriff’s deputy, and his sentencing is scheduled this week, but that has not stopped his sister from continuing to plead his innocence.

On Oct. 31, a jury convicted David Barry Hanley, 59, on one count of attempting to murder a peace officer and four counts of resisting a police officer by force. He was acquitted on charges that he tried to kill three other deputies. Hanley is currently scheduled for sentencing Friday.

The convictions stem from an April 2012 early morning incident in the 28000 block of 11th Street at the intersection of Tereticornis Avenue. According to a report from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Hanley refused to disarm himself after deputies responded to the area regarding a call of shots being fired. 

As deputies honed in on the gunfire, Hanley was located in a trailer behind a residence and ordered by the officers to come out. He complied, but with a shotgun in hand, police alleged in an initial report.

“The suspect raised the shotgun in a threatening manner toward the deputies, refusing orders to put the weapon down,” the report stated.

Hanley fired one round in the direction of the deputies, and police gunfire was returned, the sheriff’s report continued. Hanley was struck.

He was eventually transported to a nearby hospital “with non-life-threatening injuries,” according to the report.

No deputies were injured during the incident. Click here to read what neighbors had to say and to see photos.

In an online petition posted by Jennifer Ryan, she denies her brother was armed at the time of his shooting and she alleges police planted evidence.

Ryan, a Lake Havasu City, Arizona-resident, presents her case using court documents. She includes police photos taken at the shooting scene.

Ryan asserts her brother’s innocence and asks others to take her side by signing the petition.

“David Hanley was not doing anything wrong, was not breaking any laws,” Ryan writes.

She adds, "David Hanley should not have to pay for someone else failure to perform their duties as Police Officers that are sworn to server [sic] and protect."