police
Sheriff's Deputy Intentionally Ran Over Gunman After Detective Killed During Eviction
Sheriff's deputy intentionally ran over gunman with armored vehicle after he k*lled detective during eviction
A sheriff's deputy deliberately drove an armored vehicle over a gunman who had just killed Detective Randy Hoppert during an eviction in Porterville, California.
"We intentionally ran him over," Sheriff Boudreaux told reporters afterward.
David Morales, 59, had failed to pay rent for 35 days when deputies arrived Thursday morning to serve his final eviction notice at the nearly 1,500-square-foot home where he had lived since 2005.
Morales had told family members he planned to "go down in a blaze of glory" and would not surrender.
The Ambush
At 10:40 a.m., Morales opened fire on deputies with a high-powered rifle, killing Detective Hoppert.
Morales then escaped through a rear window and lay in wait in the backyard.
When the BearCat armored vehicle followed him, he fired four shots into the driver's side window.
The Response
The BearCat driver ran over Morales, killing him instantly.
Sheriff Boudreaux defended the action: "You shoot at cops, we're going to run you over."
Neighbors had previously called police about Morales, warning officers to "be careful with this guy" after he chased visitors down the street.
The Cost
He had received a commendation in 2021 for using his Navy training to save a 2-year-old girl's life.
Hoppert leaves behind a wife who is four months pregnant.
This marks the first line-of-duty death for the Tulare County Sheriff's Office in nearly 20 years.