A Fresno County sheriff's deputy was shot to death and two other area lawmen were hospitalized Thursday after an arson suspect barricaded himself inside a trailer and shot at deputies and fire investigators serving an arrest warrant, authorities said.
Fresno Sheriff Margaret Mims told the Fresno Bee that the deputy was killed when he and others were investigating reports of arson and shots fired at the mobile home in a small community east of Fresno.
Authorities arrived at the scene in the 18200 block of Kings Canyon Road in Minkler about 9:40 a.m. to serve the suspect and were met by gunfire, Fresno County sheriff’s spokesman Chris Curtice said. Minkler is about 20 miles east of Fresno.
Two deputies and a Reedley police officer, who arrived later, were shot. They were taken to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno. Authorities could not confirm whether a fourth officer had also been taken to the hospital.
The suspect continued to exchange gunfire with officers who surrounded the trailer Thursday afternoon, authorities said. About 200 officers were on the scene, Curtice said.
— Amina Khan
[Updated at 3:32 p.m.: Fresno television station KMPH is reporting that Reedley Police Officer Javier Bejar is on life support and is not expected to recover, according to Reedley City Manager Rocky Rogers. Reedley City Hall has been shut down for the remainder of the day to serve as a grieving center for employees and family members, the station reported.]
Photo: Fresno Bee