Machete-wielding man killed in shooting of Riverside County deputy

A man who authorities say wielded a machete during a domestic dispute was shot and killed by Riverside County sheriff’s deputies on Tuesday.

Deputies were called at 12:56 p.m. to the 800 block of Minor Street in San Jacinto after a woman said her boyfriend was “behaving erratically and armed with a machete,” according to the Department of Justice. Riverside County Sheriff.

Although the woman escaped, her boyfriend prevented her 12-year-old child from leaving with her, deputies said. The man barricaded himself inside with the child.

“When deputies attempted to rescue the minor, the suspect struck the deputy in the head with a wooden object, causing a minor injury, then swung the machete at another deputy,” authorities said.

After deputies from the department’s Special Enforcement Office responded to help save the child, the man struck a deputy with the machete and at least one deputy opened fire, authorities said.

The child was unharmed and was safely released from the residence.

The man was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Two deputies were injured, authorities said. One was treated at the scene and the other was taken to hospital for treatment of injuries that are not considered life threatening.

“The affected deputies will be placed on paid administrative leave in accordance with department policy,” authorities said.

The sheriff’s department did not release the deputies’ names on Tuesday.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Riverside County District Attorney’s Office Investigator JR Ferrer or Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Nelson Gomez at (951) 955 -2777.