Riverside County, CA: Man in Critical Condition After Officer-Involved Shooting

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A man is in critical condition Friday morning after being shot by a Hemet police officer assigned to the Riverside County Regional Gang Task Force, the sheriff’s department announced. It marks the third police shooting in less than a week.

The latest shooting took place at approximately 7:30 p.m. on Thursday in Valle Vista, an unincorporated area of Hemet, specifically in the vicinity of Florida Avenue and Fairview Avenue.

According to the sheriff’s department, the Riverside County Regional Gang Task Force, which is comprised of deputies and officers from police agencies across the county, attempted to approach the man when he fled, resulting in a foot chase. During the pursuit, the man allegedly produced a handgun, leading to an officer-involved shooting.

The man sustained gunshot wounds and was immediately given medical attention by the officers until paramedics arrived. He was subsequently transported to a local area hospital in critical condition, while no officers were injured during the incident.

Officer Placed on Administrative Leave

The Hemet police officer responsible for firing the shots will be placed on paid administrative leave in accordance with Hemet Police Department policy.

At this time, the authorities have not released the identities of the man or the officer involved.

However, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office will spearhead an investigation into the shooting, ensuring a thorough examination of the incident.

Previous Shootings in the Area

This incident marks the third police shooting in less than a week in Riverside County.

Yesterday, the Riverside Police Department disclosed details about another officer-involved shooting that resulted in the death of a man. The shooting occurred just hours after a similar incident in Hemet.

The Riverside incident unfolded at approximately 1:48 a.m. in the La Sierra neighborhood. Police officers were conducting a check on an occupied vehicle in an apartment driveway located in the 3600 block of Banbury Drive.

According to the authorities, “During the contact, the suspect driver produced a firearm and an officer-involved shooting occurred.” The driver, identified as 26-year-old Ryan Joseph Smith from San Bernardino, was subsequently taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Police confirmed that a firearm was recovered at the scene.

No officers sustained any injuries during this incident, and the investigation is being jointly conducted by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, and the Riverside Police Department.

The first shooting occurred at approximately 10:38 p.m. on Tuesday when an on-duty deputy from the Hemet Sheriff’s Station was refueling his patrol vehicle at a business located in the area of Meridian Street and Florida Avenue.

During this time, the deputy was alerted to an individual standing nearby on the sidewalk holding a handgun. Despite giving the suspect verbal commands, the individual continued to handle the weapon, resulting in a deputy-involved shooting. The deputy, fortunately, remained unharmed, and the suspect received medical attention at the scene before being transported to a local hospital. No updates regarding the suspect’s medical condition have been provided so far.

The deputy involved in this incident will also be placed on paid administrative leave as the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and the California Highway Patrol oversee the investigation into the Hemet shooting.