BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) What began as a routine eviction notice in Tulare County escalated into a deadly confrontation that left a sheriff’s detective dead and ended with the suspect killed after an hours-long standoff in Porterville.
Police scanner traffic captured the chaos as the shooting unfolded: “Shots fired. Shots fired. Officer down.”
Tulare County sheriff’s Detective Randy Hoppert, 35, was killed after being shot by David Morales.
KCSO involved with shooting during eviction; suspect in 8-hour standoff (KBAK/KBFX)
Morales then barricaded himself in a Porterville neighborhood, triggering an eight-hour standoff during which shots continued to be fired.
After multiple attempts to get Morales to surrender peacefully, an armored vehicle was brought in, and Morales was eventually run over and killed.
Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux addressed the outcome in blunt terms: “Don’t shoot at cops. You shoot at cops, we’re going to run you over. He got run over; he got what he deserves.”
The armored vehicle, known as a BearCat, was provided by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, which worked alongside Tulare County deputies during the standoff.
Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said the use of force was driven by the threat deputies faced.
KCSO involved with shooting during eviction; suspect in 8-hour standoff (KBAK/KBFX)
“When use of force, deadly force is used to stop a threat to save your life. All bets are off,” Youngblood said.
Youngblood said Morales fired at deputies in the armored vehicle using “.30-06” ammunition developed for the military but also used for hunting large game.
“I do know it penetrated the BearCat windshield by one round,” he said.
Youngblood said the standoff also served as a reminder of other deputies killed in the line of duty.
KCSO involved with shooting during eviction; suspect in 8-hour standoff (KBAK/KBFX)Comment with Bubbles
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“It picks old wounds like Phillip Campas, our SWAT officer who died in the line of duty. We certainly send our prayers to the family of the deputy in Tulare County,” he said.