California authorities have arrested Staff Sgt. Steven Carrillo in the killing of Santa Cruz Sherrif’s deputy Damon Gutzwiller. His dramatic capture was described by Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart: The shooter was detained by a resident who batted away his guns and a pipe bomb, holding the suspect until neighbors and police arrived, authorities said Monday.
Carrillo allegedly ambushed, then shot and killed Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, 38. Another deputy was shot and struck by shrapnel from a bomb before Carrillo allegedly ran over him while fleeing the scene, Hart said, according to NBC News. A third law enforcement officer, a member of the California Highway Patrol, was shot in the hand, he revealed.
The second deputy suffered “significant internal trauma” from a bullet that struck his tactical vest and a possible leg injury but is in stable condition, Hart said.
From the report:
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“Carrillo allegedly opened fire on officers Saturday after someone called 911 about a suspicious white van in the Santa Cruz mountains that had guns and bomb-making equipment inside. When officers found the van, the driver took off. Authorities followed it to a driveway in the remote community of Ben Lomond, in unincorporated in Santa Cruz county. There, Hart said, Carrillo ambushed the officers before fleeing the scene.
As deputies searched the area, Carrillo allegedly escaped to the back yard of a home with an AR-15-style assault rifle slung over his shoulder. When a resident confronted him, asking why he was there, Carrillo allegedly demanded his car keys.
Hart said the resident, who asked not to be identified, gave his keys to Carrillo, then tackled him as the suspect began to leave. When the rifle “fell away,” Hart said, Carrillo allegedly tried to ignite a pipe bomb in his pocket while the man restrained him.
“He was able to knock it out of his hand,” Hart said.
Carrillo then allegedly reached into his waistband for a pistol, which the resident also knocked away.
By then, other neighbors had arrived and were able to hold the suspect until authorities arrived. Video footage from the scene showed two men holding him on the ground. An assault rifle could be seen nearby.”
Watch:
#California video of arrest of duty Air Force Sgt, Steven Carrillo, who killed Santa Cruz Sheriff’s deputy, Damon Gutzwiller, and injured 2 others law enforcement in Ben Lemond. The shooter had an AR-15 and IED@IsraelMFA @RosannaMrtnz pic.twitter.com/KqavbWBtRB
— Unofficial ✡MOSSAD✡ (@MossadNews) June 7, 2020
According to the report, the FBI is investigating a possible link between Saturday’s incident and the May 29 killing of a federal officer in Oakland. Authorities have said that the suspect who fired at that officer, Dave Patrick Underwood, was in a white van.
Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeffrey Rosell said Carrillo will be arraigned Friday. Hart has said he will face murder charges.
