KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
Update 3:30 a.m. (Wednesday): adds status of shooting victim, investigation, statement from Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, ID of victim.
Homicide Detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of a suspect near the Rodeway Inn in Castaic, Sheriff’s officials said.
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Sheriff’s Department officials are investigating a deputy-involved shooting around 9 p.m. that left one man dead at the 31500 block of Castaic Road, officials said Tuesday night.
According to investigators, deputies attempted to stop the suspect after they recognized him from previous interactions and knew he was on probation for a narcotic violation. When the suspect fled on foot, deputies followed him and eventually made contact with him. It was at this time that a Deputy-Involved Shooting occurred.
The suspect, who has now been identified as William Bowers, 51, was struck by gunfire in the upper torso and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Sheriff’s Information Bureau released the following statement regarding the shooting at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday:
“Investigators have learned that the deputies attempted to make contact with a male who was riding a bicycle. The male fled on foot, the deputies followed him and eventually made contact with the male, at which time a deputy-involved shooting occurred.
The male adult suspect was struck in the upper torso and pronounced dead at the scene. No deputies were injured. There is no further information at this time.”
The statement did not indicate the crime the suspect was sought for, or whether a weapon was retrieved at the scene of the crime. A message left with Homicide officials was not immediately returned Wednesday morning.
The shooting victim, who was not identified by Sheriff’s Station officials, was reportedly shot and declared dead at the scene at approximately 9:02 p.m., officials said. The deputy was not injured in the shooting, according to preliminary reports.
The victim’s body was found on the sidewalk in front of the Rodeway Inn in Castaic.
A witness at the scene reported to KHTS AM-1220 that a man riding a bicycle was chased by deputies, and was shot after abandoning the bicycle on Castaic Road.
The shooting is being investigated by Lt. Joe Mendoza of the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau, according to officials. Homicide officials arrived on scene shortly after 11 p.m.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting are not known as of 9:31 p.m. Homicide Bureau officials for the Sheriff’s Department generally investigate all officer-involved shootings.
They had not yet arrived on scene as of 9:30 p.m.
Fire officials confirmed that medical personnel were dispatched to 31547 Castaic Road, regarding a shooting victim at 9:04 p.m.
Coroner’s officials have been notified of the shooting, but have not yet collected the body, as of 1:45 a.m.
Castaic Road traffic has been impacted for several hours while the scene is investigated. Drivers are reportedly be diverted between Parker Road and Lake Hughes Road.
No other details of the shooting are available at this time. More information will be added as it becomes available.
The deputies who were involved in the shooting are still being interviewed regarding their statements, according to Sheriff’s Department officials.
The Critical Incident Review panel convenes to perform a preliminary risk management analysis of the shooting. This panel is comprised of the concerned chief and unit commander, risk management, training and the chairperson of the Executive Force Review Committee and Office of the Los Angeles County Counsel.
Every aspect of a Deputy-Involved shooting is ultimately evaluated by the Sheriff’s Executive Force Review Committee, which decides whether or not there are any policy, tactical, supervisory, or training violations or concerns.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at(323) 890-5500. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
Chris McCrory contributed to this report.
