Sheriff’s deputy killed in central California while serving eviction notice

PORTERVILLE, Calif. (AP) — A man shot and killed a central California sheriff’s deputy Thursday morning while authorities were serving an eviction notice and hours later he remained barricaded inside the home, authorities said.

Tulare County deputies were serving an eviction notice at a home in Porterville when a 60-year-old man opened fire on them, the department wrote on Facebook.

Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said at an afternoon news conference that SWAT teams were clearing nearby homes and the situation remained extremely dangerous. Residents were urged to shelter in place and nearby schools were on lockdown.

Authorities say the man is still barricaded inside the home and believed to be armed with a rifle, news station KFSN reported.

Boudreaux said Morales failed to pay rent for 35 days and had been expecting law enforcement to arrive to serve a final notice for eviction. He said Morales “laid in wait” and immediately shot at officers when they arrived.

The deputy that was shot was part of a group of officers that arrived to help after gunfire began, Boudreaux said. He was taken to a hospital where he died.