The California man who allegedly gunned down a sheriff’s deputy in an ambush is an active-duty Air Force sergeant, officers mentioned Sunday.
Steven Carrillo, 32, was stationed at Travis Air Force Base when he allegedly killed Santa Cruz County Sheriff Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller whereas being pursued Saturday in Ben Lomond, in line with the US Air Force.
Santa Cruz deputies responded to a 911 name round 1:30 p.m. Saturday a couple of suspicious van with weapons and bomb-making units inside, authorities mentioned.
But as they arrived, the van pulled away, sending the officers on a chase down a driveway to Carillo’s house, authorities mentioned.
Deputies received out of their automobile and had been ambushed by explosives and gunfire, which fatally wounded Gutzwiller, officers mentioned.
“Sergeant Damon Gutzwiller was shot and brought to the hospital the place he was pronounced useless,” Sheriff Jim Hart, in line with information station KPIX.
“Another deputy was both shot or struck by shrapnel and struck by a automotive because the suspect fled the property. We are hopeful the deputy will get well.”
Carrillo then tried to carjack a automobile and was wounded whereas getting arrested, officers mentioned. He was taken to the hospital for remedy and shall be charged with first-degree murder.
A California Highway Patrol officer additionally suffered a hand-wound in the incident and was anticipated to outlive, KPIX reported.
Travis Air Force Base confirmed Sunday that Carrillo had arrived on the base in June 2018 and was a member of the 60th Security Forces Squadron.
His late spouse Monika Leigh Scott Carrillo, who was additionally a member of the Air Force, was discovered useless at a resort in May 2018 whereas she was stationed in South Carolina.
Her dying was dominated a suicide after an investigation by the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, in line with the Air Force.
The FBI mentioned it was additionally investigating whether or not Carrillo’s white van was the identical one used in the deadly taking pictures of federal protecting companies officer David Underwood May 29 throughout George Floyd protests in Oakland.
“We are working with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department to find out a potential motive and/or hyperlinks to different crimes dedicated in the Bay Area, to incorporate the taking pictures of the FPS officers in Oakland,” the FBI mentioned in an announcement, in line with KPIX.
With Post wires
