ADELANTO – San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon described the injuries of the Victor Valley Station Deputy who was shot as “significant” late Thursday morning.
During a press conference, McMahon explained that the 2-deputy unit conducted a traffic stop not far from the Raintree Garden Apartments in the City of Adelanto. During the stop, they got a shots heard call and heard multiple shots fired. Â Both deputies ran toward the apartment complex to investigate. As they approached the apartment, gunfire from inside the apartment again was heard and a deputy was struck in the abdomen.
According to McMahon, the deputy was wearing a bulletproof vest when he was shot, but he was shot where the vest did not protect. The deputy was assisted by the other deputies at the scene and a helicopter responded to airlift the deputy to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, where medical personnel rushed him into surgery in an attempt to repair damage caused by the gunshot wound. The deputy remains in critical but stable condition in the Intensive Care Unit with his wife and four daughters.
The deputy, who has been a San Bernardino County deputy for five years, two years with the City of Victor Valley Station. Sheriff McMahon said that the incident is being investigated, and they are not sure if it was an ambush-type situation or not. Upon search, a handgun was located inside the apartment. Other uninvolved subjects occupied the apartment. As a result of the shooting Nicholas Ruiz, 26, of Los Angeles, and Larry Carino, 26, of Los Angeles were arrested, believed the be the gunmen.
The City of Adelanto will hold a “Unity of Prayer” service at the Adelanto City Hall flagpole at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.
