Press Releases

Update:

The suspect was identified as 66 year old Randy Fedorchuk from La Quinta. 

This is an ongoing investigation anyone with information regarding this incident in encouraged to contact D.A. Investigator Steve Paixao at 760-863-8216 or Investigator Dickey at 951-955-7777.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

Details:

On September 24, 2020, at 1:25pm, Deputies assigned to the Thermal Sheriff’s Station received information of a man with a gun in the courtyard of La Quinta City Hall. The deputies responded to the courtyard and saw a male adult armed with a rifle. The suspect pointed the rifle at the deputies and a deputy involved shooting occurred. One of the two involved deputies fired at the suspect striking him. Life saving measures were performed and the suspect was transported to a nearby hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. The suspect’s identity is being withheld pending next of kin notification. No Deputies were injured during this incident. A rifle was recovered at the scene. There are no outstanding suspects and there is no danger to the public. 

The Deputies involved in this incident have been placed on administrative leave in accordance with department policy. The Deputies names will not be released at this time.

Investigators from the Force Investigations Detail, consisting of the Riverside County District Attorney Investigators and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Central Homicide Unit, responded and assumed the investigation. Riverside County District Attorney’s Office Investigators will be primary on this incident. This is an active and on-going investigation with no further details available at this time.

The Force Investigations Detail encourages anyone with information regarding this incident to contact D.A. Investigator Steve Paixao at 760-863-8216 or Investigator Dickey at 951-955-7777.