Ventura County Sheriff – Incident Press Release
A 24-year-old Camarillo resident was shot by deputies early Sunday morning, when he confronted them with a handgun and a knife. The man called 911 at 1:10 am stating he had a loaded handgun and was going to start shooting people in the neighborhood. He also said he was suicidal and wanted to provoke deputies into a shooting. The man was out on the street in the area of Calle La Sombra and Bradford Street when deputies arrived and the shooting occurred. The man was struck multiple times by gunfire and was taken to a local hospital, where he is in critical condition.
During the 911 call, the man stayed on the line with the dispatcher, who patiently tried to de- escalate the situation and coax him into dropping the weapons. However, he refused.
Any time a deputy is involved in a shooting, there are multiple investigations that take place. The Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau will investigate the overall incident, and the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office will evaluate the legality of the shooting. The Sheriff’s Professional Standards Bureau will also conduct an administrative investigation. The two deputies involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, which is a standard procedure when deputies are involved in a critical incident.
The area where the shooting occurred is a residential neighborhood consisting of apartment buildings and single family homes. Investigators canvassed the neighborhood interviewing nearby residents. Anyone who witnessed the shooting is asked to contact Sgt. Steve Michalec of the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau at (805)384-4737.