As reported by: John Gregory from ABC:
PORT HUENEME, Calif. (KABC) — An investigation is underway in Port Hueneme after a fatal officer-involved shooting early Friday morning. It began with a traffic collision and ended with gunfire.
The massive crime scene shut down a parking lot of Port Hueneme’s beach park.
Authorities responded to a traffic collision in the 500 block of East Surfside Drive at 4:13 a.m. Shortly after the officers arrived, shots were fired.
“A short while after they arrived on scene, they requested the assistance because shots were being fired,” said Port Hueneme Police Sgt. Peter Freiberg.
The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. A name has not been released pending notification of next of kin. It was unclear if a gun was recovered at the scene.
“He’s always parked his truck up here at night and in the morning,” said Donni Perez of Port Hueneme.
Both police officers involved in the shooting will be on paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation. This is the first officer-involved shooting for Port Hueneme police this year. They only had one last year.
UPDATE:
PORT HUENEME, Calif. (KABC) — The man shot and killed by Port Hueneme police on Friday has been identified.
According to the coroner, 53-year-old Michael Deluca of Thousand Oaks died of multiple gunshot wounds.
Officers say they encountered Deluca while investigating a reported traffic collision in the parking lot at Port Hueneme Beach Park around 4 a.m. Friday.
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Officials are not releasing much information, but they say at some point, two officers called for help and fired their guns.
Authorities have not said whether Deluca was armed. The shooting is still under investigation.
UPDATE:
PORT HUENEME, Calif. (KABC) — Port Hueneme police say former bodyguard Michael Deluca claimed he had a gun before officers fatally shot him during a confrontation last week.
Officials say after receiving several 911 calls on Friday, they confronted Deluca at the scene of a traffic accident.
Police say Deluca was not cooperative and told officers that he had a gun.
Officers first used a Taser in an effort to subdue him. Port Hueneme police say they then used deadly force when Deluca’s actions escalated.
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office is continuing its independent investigation.
