California Sheriff Defends Intentional Fatal Vehicle Strike on Suspect Who Killed Detective
A California sheriff delivered a blunt and uncompromising statement as he confirmed that a suspect who shot and killed a detective on Thursday was also dead after deputies deliberately ran him over with an armored vehicle. The fatal confrontation followed an hours-long standoff that began when law enforcement officers attempted to serve an eviction notice.
Sheriff's Blunt Announcement Following Deadly Standoff
David Morales, 59, was fatally run over by a BearCat armored vehicle operated by members of the Kern County Sheriff's Office SWAT team after an extended confrontation in Porterville. Sheriff Mike Bourdeaux made the announcement at a news conference, stating unequivocally that the action was intentional.
'We intentionally ran him over,' the sheriff declared just minutes after receiving confirmation of the suspect's death. 'Don't shoot at cops. You shoot at cops, we're going to run you over. He got run over; he got what he deserved.'
Sequence of Events Leading to Tragedy
The tragic series of events began at approximately 10:20 AM on Thursday when Tulare County deputies arrived at a residence on Brian Avenue in Porterville to serve Morales with an eviction notice. According to Sheriff Bourdeaux, Morales had been expecting law enforcement and had 'laid in wait' until they arrived, at which point he immediately opened fire.
The suspect had been renting the home but had not paid rent for thirty-five days. After the initial shooting, Morales fled the property, running through the yards of three neighboring homes while wearing camouflage clothing and tactical gear. He continued firing at officers throughout his escape attempt.
Kern County deputies inside the BearCat armored vehicle subsequently searched an area where they believed Morales might be hiding and ultimately ran him over during their pursuit.
Detective Randy Hoppert Fatally Shot
The sheriff's remarks came hours after Morales fatally shot Tulare County Detective Randy Hoppert, 35, who had responded to the scene as backup. Hoppert had been with the department for six years and had previously served as a Navy corpsman from 2010 to 2015.
Hoppert was shot in the head during the confrontation and was transported to Sierra View Medical Center in Porterville, where he was pronounced dead at 11:57 AM. Officials considered using a medivac helicopter to transport him to a trauma center in Fresno, but his condition was already too volatile for such a transfer.
Extended Standoff and Community Impact
As the standoff continued, authorities deployed gas into the home where Morales had been hiding. When the suspect finally emerged, the California Highway Patrol deployed a helicopter equipped with specialized technology to help locate him. Crisis negotiators responded to the scene, and Morales' family members urged him to come out peacefully.
The incident caused significant disruption in the residential neighborhood. Residents were either evacuated by SWAT teams or instructed to shelter in place for several hours, while nearby schools were placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure.
Remembering Detective Randy Hoppert
Sheriff Bourdeaux remembered Hoppert as a devoted father whose wife was four months pregnant at the time of his death. 'He's leaving behind a wife and he has a family,' Bourdeaux stated. 'He's a human being who takes his kids to sports, shops at the same shopping centers as you do.'
The sheriff also highlighted Hoppert's professional dedication, recounting how he had recently used his Navy training to save a two-year-old girl who had become unresponsive after a fall. The child was taken to Valley Children's Hospital and made a full recovery thanks to Hoppert's intervention.
'He's out there doing a job: To try and make our community safe,' Bourdeaux emphasized. 'This is a dangerous job, and it's one that you have to have a certain personality to do it, to serve your community, because each and every day, families know that the officer may not come home and that's what happened today.'
Official Response and Memorial
California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered flags to be flown at half-mast throughout the state in honor of Detective Hoppert. 'Deputy Hoppert's legacy will endure and his sacrifice will always be remembered,' the governor declared in an official statement.
Sheriff Bourdeaux reflected on the senseless nature of the tragedy, stating: 'This is senseless. We wanted him to come out peacefully, but he pushed back against that. He was in camouflage clothing and continued shooting at officers to the point that he shot and killed one of our own. He created this.'
