Deputy killed in California ambush by Air Force sergeant

Deputy killed in California ambush by Air Force sergeant

MARTHA MENDOZA
,Associated Press•June 7, 2020
450 Comments

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — A Northern California sheriff’s deputy was killed and two law enforcement officers wounded Saturday when they were ambushed with gunfire and explosives while pursuing a suspect, authorities said.

The U.S. Air Force confirmed Sunday that the suspect was an active duty sergeant stationed at Travis Air Force Base.

Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, 38, was shot and killed in Ben Lomond, an unincorporated area near Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart said. A second deputy was injured, and a third officer from the California Highway Patrol was shot in his hand, Hart said.

Gutzwiller “was a beloved figure here at the sheriff’s office,” the sheriff said.

“Damon showed up today to do his job, to keep this community safe, and his life was taken needlessly," a visibly shaken Hart said.

The suspect, Steven Carrillo, 32, was shot during his arrest and was being treated at the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, Hart said. The Sheriff's Department and the FBI are investigating.

A Travis Air Force Base spokesman confirmed Sunday that Carrillo had arrived at Travis Air Force Base in June 2018 and was a member of the 60th Security Forces Squadron. Carrillo’s wife Monika Leigh Scott Carrillo, who was also in the Air Force, was found dead in an off-base hotel in May 2018 while she was stationed in South Carolina. She was 30. Her death was investigated by the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and ruled a suicide, according to the Air Force.

On Saturday in Santa Cruz County, deputies responded to a 911 call around 1:30 p.m. about a suspicious van. The caller said there were guns and bomb-making devices inside, Hart said.

When deputies arrived, the van pulled away and the deputies followed. The van went down a driveway at Carrillo's home and the deputies were ambushed by gunfire and explosives after getting out of their vehicle.

Gutzwiller was wounded and later died at a hospital. Another deputy was wounded by gunfire or shrapnel and struck by a vehicle as the suspect fled.

Carrillo attempted to carjack a vehicle and was wounded while being arrested.

Hart said Carrillo was taken to the hospital for treatment and would be charged with first-degree murder.

Gov. Gavin Newsom extended condolences to Gutzwiller’s family and ordered flags at the Capitol to be flown at half-staff in honor of the slain deputy.

“He will be remembered as a hero who devoted his life to protecting the community and as a loving husband and father,” Newsom said in a statement.

The shooting shocked Ben Lomond, a town of about 6,000 people tucked up in the Santa Cruz mountains.

Resident Kathy Crocker brought a bouquet to the sheriff’s office as Hart gave a news conference about the shootings.

“It just breaks my heart that this keeps happening,” she said, as teary-eyed deputies entered the building.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/deputy-ki...163951553.html

Brave unarmed neighbor took down Air Force sergeant suspected of killing Santa Cruz deputy

By Brooks Jarosz
Published 5 hours ago
Updated 1 hour ago
Santa Cruz County
KTVU FOX 2

Neighbor took down gunman who killed sheriff’s deputy

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KTVU) - Investigators outlined a violent and chaotic timeline into the killing of a Santa Cruz County sheriff's deputy that was brought under control by a daring neighbor who tackled the gunman.

Authorities said Steven Carrillo, an active-duty U.S. Air Force sergeant, shot and killed Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller and wounded two other officers Saturday.

"He was dangerous and he is an angry man intent on bringing harm to police officers," Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart said. "He murdered Sgt. Gutzwiller. He injured another deputy and another police officer and he's going to be held accountable."

On Saturday, deputies responded to a 911 call about a suspicious white van in Ben Lomond, an unincorporated area near Santa Cruz. The caller said guns and bomb-making devices were inside, Sheriff Jim Hart said.

When deputies arrived, the van pulled away and the deputies followed. The van went down a driveway at a home, and the deputies were met with gunfire and explosives after getting out of their vehicle.

Authorities said after Carrillo, 32, carried out the attack, he was seen on video attempting to carjack someone. Investigators believe he may have victimized others.

But it came down to a backyard in the Ben Lomond area where a curious neighbor tackled the suspect who authorities said was armed with an AR-15.

"It was a remarkable, remarkable, heroic thing that resident did," Hart said. "And he does not want to be named. He does not want any recognition."

Carrillo also tried to set off pipe bombs and reached for a pistol before he was wrestled to the ground, officials said.

"This guy could have done a lot more damage in our community had that resident not taken the action that he did," Hart said.

Carrillo was shot during his arrest and is being treated at a local hospital. He is expected to survive.

The FBI also is investigating if Carrillo has any links to the killing of a federal officer who was shot outside the U.S. courthouse in Oakland more than a week ago. Both killings involved shooters in a white van.

The exact motive has yet to be determined, but authorities believe the suspect was targeting police.

Carrillo was a team leader for the Phoenix Ravens at Travis Air Force Base as part of the 60th Security Forces Squadron. The Phoenix Ravens are tasked with protecting aircraft and crews from assaults on airfields “where security is unknown or additional security is needed to counter local threats,” according to the Air Force.

https://www.ktvu.com/news/brave-neig...ta-cruz-deputy