Man shot and killed by Riverside County deputies in Moreno Valley, family says

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Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Man shot and killed by deputies in Moreno Valley, family says
A man with schizophrenia was having a mental health crisis when he was shot and killed by sheriff's deputies in Moreno Valley, the man's family says.

MORENO VALLEY, Calif. (KABC) -- A 33-year-old man was shot and killed by sheriff's deputies in Moreno Valley Monday afternoon, the man's family and authorities say.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department said deputies responded to the 25400 block of Filaree Avenue just after 12:30 p.m.

A woman reported that her son, Jesus Antonio Rodriguez, was "under the influence of an unknown substance and being aggressive towards her."

"When deputies arrived, Rodriguez ran to his bedroom and started yelling at them from the doorway," the Sheriff's Department said in a press release. "Deputies attempted to deescalate the situation, but he continued being aggressive and uncooperative."

Rodriguez, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia, allegedly grabbed a baseball bat with sharp metal spikes on the end, authorities say.

The deputies used a stun gun twice without effect and authorities say Rodriguez was finally shot when he advanced toward them.

"Lifesaving measures were taken by deputies and then paramedics, but Rodriguez was pronounced deceased at the scene," authorities said.

Family of the man say he was having a mental health crisis when deputies responded. They added he had a BB gun and told dispatchers about that when they called for help.

According to family, deputies cleared the home before entering. When they went inside, relatives say they heard gunshots.

"The cops have been to my mother's house so many times that they know he's schizophrenic," the man's sister Isabel Rodriguez said. "She disclosed to them that he had a BB gun - it wasn't a gun. It was a BB gun."

"There's no reason they couldn't have Tasered him," Rodriguez added. "They could have used a different kind of method, especially since he's schizophrenic."

No deputies were injured in the incident.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.