Investigators on Thursday identified the seven sheriff’s deputies involved in the fatal shooting of an armed man who allegedly pointed a gun at them while he was trespassing at his ex-girlfriend’s house in Spring Valley last week.
The law enforcement officers who fired their weapons were identified as patrol deputies Evan Carey, Frank Spinelli, Chalit Carranto, Thomas Cook, Derek Trumbo and Manuel Zamora, as well as Darryl Patmon with the sheriff’s office canine unit.
They have each been with the office for two to 12 years.
The shooting is being investigated by San Diego police under a countywide protocol designed to keep departments from investigating incidents involving their own officers.
The shooting occurred after deputies received a call around 3:20 p.m. on Nov. 15 from a woman who alleged her ex-boyfriend had entered her house — while four children were inside — through a back door, police Lt. Jud Campbell said in a news release.
The woman reported that her ex-boyfriend, later identified as 34-year-old Victor Rendon Jr., was armed, behaving erratically, suffering from mental issues and under the influence, Campbell said.
Deputies arrived at the home near Leland Street and Davenrich Street and found the woman outside but were told the children were still inside, according to investigators. Campbell said deputies worked their way into the home while Rendon was in the backyard and removed the children.
Campbell said deputies then moved along the side of the house to contact Rendon, who was on a porch just outside the house in the backyard.
Around 4:25 p.m., Rendon reportedly fired at least two rounds with deputies less than 15 feet away from him, investigators said. It was not immediately clear which direction the gunman had fired in, but deputies pulled back, Campbell said.
Over the next half hour, Rendon reportedly went back inside the home and began throwing items out of the front door. He also came out of the house through the front door several times while waving the gun around erratically and fired at least one more round while inside the house, Campbell said.
It was initially reported that he fired out the front door and onto the street, but investigators later determined that Rendon had not, Campbell said.
Around 4:55 p.m., Rendon came out of the front door and allegedly raised a semi-automatic handgun toward the deputies, who then opened fire on him, Campbell said.
Deputies attempted to render lifesaving aid, but Rendon died before he could be taken to a hospital.
The deputies were wearing body-worn cameras and helicopters were overhead during most of this incident, Campbell said.
Investigators are continuing to examine evidence and bullet trajectory analysis in connection with the gunman’s exact actions inside the house, officials said.
When the Police Department completes its investigation, it will be reviewed by the county district attorney’s office to determine if the deputies bear any criminal liability.
The sheriff’s office will conduct an administrative investigation into the deputies’ discharge of their firearms. The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will also monitor the investigations.
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