An intense statewide manhunt was underway Paso Robles Thursday for Mason James Lira, a transient who allegedly ambushed a San Luis Obispo County deputy and was wished within the murder of a homeless man.
In addition they launched a photograph of the suspect and requested Northern California residents, particularly these within the Monterey space, to be looking out for Lira, who is taken into account armed and harmful.
The incident started when Lara opened hearth on a police station in Paso Robles at round 3:45 a.m., stated San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson.
Workers on obligation on the station at 900 Park Avenue noticed the suspect exterior their constructing who was armed with a firearm and commenced taking pictures on the police constructing. The police division requested help of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Workplace and CHP. The suspect started firing at patrol automobiles as they entered the downtown Paso Robles space.
At roughly 4:19 a.m., two deputies had been looking out the downtown space after they got here underneath hearth from the suspect. One of many deputies was shot within the face by the suspect. The deputy’s associate dragged him to security and returned hearth, Parkinson stated. The bullet stays lodged in his head and he’s in critical situation, he stated.
“We really feel that this was an ambush; that he deliberate it, that he meant for officers to come back out of the police division and to assault them,” stated Parkinson.
Gunfire occurred over a span of some minutes, stated sheriff’s spokesman Tony Cipolla. Two sheriff’s deputies had been fired upon after they arrived on the scene, wounding one. His associate returned hearth, Cipolla stated.
The deputy was airlifted to a trauma middle out of the world. The sheriff’s workplace was not releasing his identify however stated he’s a two-year veteran of the company.
“He’s not out of the woods,” Parkinson stated. “That is very critical.”
Police and the sheriff’s workplace had been pursuing leads and requested anybody with surveillance video associated to the shootings contact authorities.
“We really feel very assured the suspect is now not in our space,” stated Paso Robles Police Chief Ty Lewis.
Downtown space search has concluded. Suspect excellent. Downtown space nonetheless closed for proof processing. PD & SO following up on leads. When you have video surveillance video of the incident, contact PRPD.
— Paso Robles Police (@PasoRoblesPD) June 10, 2020
The sheriff’s workplace stated the physique of the second sufferer was found Wednesday morning within the neighborhood of the Amtrak station at eighth Avenue and Pine Avenue in Paso Robles a couple of blocks from the place the deputy was shot earlier.
Lewis stated the unidentified sufferer was a 58-year-old male who seemed to be a homeless particular person sitting or sleeping close to the tracks. Lewis stated the person suffered a single gunshot to the again of the top.
An intense seek for the gunman in downtown Paso Robles concluded with out discovering the suspect, however downtown Paso Robles remained closed after that for the processing of proof.
Officers stated they believed it was a lone gunman.The FBI, the CHP and the California Division of Justice are offering technical help to sheriff’s detectives.
The murder investigation is being carried out by the Paso Robles Police Division whereas the taking pictures of the deputy is being investigated by the Sheriff’s Workplace. Each investigations are ongoing.
