Kern County Sheriff's Office to Lead Use-of-Force Probe in Fatal Tulare County Deputy-Involved Shooting

Authorities provide details on deadly standoff in Porterville that claimed the life of a Tulare County detective

Apr. 10, 2026 at 6:55pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a high-powered rifle cartridge casing, the metallic surface reflecting the harsh flash of light against the dark background, conveying the gritty, investigative nature of the incident.The deadly deputy-involved shooting in Porterville has sparked an investigation into the use of force by law enforcement.Bakersfield Today

The Kern County Sheriff's Office will lead the investigation into the use of force in a deadly deputy-involved shooting that occurred in Porterville, California on Thursday. Tulare County Sheriff's Office requested assistance from the Kern County SWAT team, who deployed their BearCat and Rook armored vehicles to the scene. During the standoff, the suspect, 59-year-old David Eric Morales, shot at the BearCat several times before being run over and killed by the vehicle. Tragically, Tulare County detective Randy Hoppert was killed in the incident.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the risks and challenges faced by law enforcement when responding to dangerous, armed suspects. The use of specialized tactical vehicles like the BearCat and Rook are intended to provide protection for officers, but can also escalate confrontations. The investigation by the Kern County Sheriff's Office will aim to determine if the use of force was justified in this case.

The details

According to Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood, the Kern County SWAT team was requested by the Tulare County Sheriff's Office to assist with the use of their BearCat and Rook armored vehicles. During the standoff, the suspect Morales shot at the BearCat several times before exiting the home and lying in wait in the backyard. Morales then shot the BearCat four times with a high-powered rifle, penetrating the windshield, before the BearCat ran him over, killing him at the scene. Tragically, Tulare County detective Randy Hoppert was killed during the incident.

  • The incident occurred on Thursday morning in Porterville, California.
  • Sheriff Youngblood addressed the media on Friday morning regarding the deadly shooting.

The players

Donny Youngblood

The Sheriff of Kern County, California.

Randy Hoppert

A 35-year-old detective with the Tulare County Sheriff's Office who was killed in the line of duty during the incident.

David Eric Morales

The 59-year-old suspect who shot at the BearCat armored vehicle before being run over and killed.

Mike Boudreaux

The Sheriff of Tulare County, California.

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What they’re saying

“Every time we have an officer-involved shooting, the shooting is intentional - to stop the threat.”

— Donny Youngblood, Sheriff, Kern County

What’s next

The Kern County Sheriff's Office will conduct the investigation into the use of force in this deadly deputy-involved shooting. The body camera footage from the incident has not yet been released to the public.

The takeaway

This tragic incident underscores the dangers law enforcement officers face when responding to armed suspects, and the difficult decisions they must make to protect themselves and the public. The investigation by the Kern County Sheriff's Office will aim to determine if the use of force was justified in this case, and provide lessons to improve tactics and training for handling high-risk situations.