Man Killed in Officer-Involved Shooting is Identified

Sheriff's deputies conduct an investigation near the intersection of Stetson Avenue and Lawrence Court (to the right), where a male suspect was killed in an officer-involved shooting. Menifee 24/7 photos: Doug Spoon

Story updated at 4 p.m. Monday:

The man killed in an officer-involved shooting Sunday in a remote area on the border of Winchester and Hemet has been identified by the Coroner's Office as Robert Lourenco, 36, of Riverside.

Sheriff's deputies responded at 10:30 a.m. to multiple reports of a man waving a gun and an ax around others in the area of Lawrence Court and Stetson Avenue in the unincorporated area of Green Acres, said Deputy Mike Vasquez. Units from the Hemet Police Department and California Highway Patrol were brought in to assist as officers tried to negotiate with the suspect.

"The officers attempted for over two hours to negotiate with the suspect," Vasquez said. "At some point, an officer-involved shooting occurred. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene."

According to a Sheriff's Department news release, the shooting occurred when the suspect pointed a gun at officers. No one else was injured. The area around Stetson Avenue, Lawrence Court and California Avenue were taped off and the scene remained an active investigation late Sunday afternoon, Vasquez said. The investigation is ongoing.

More than one deputy and one CHP officer have been placed on administrative leave per department policy. The number of officers who opened fire on the suspect has not been released.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call Central Homicide Unit Investigator Dean at 951-955-2777 or Investigator Pico at 951-210-1000 from the Perris Sheriff's Station.

The suspect was shot next to the green truck seen in the distance on Lawrence Court, Deputy Carlos Rosado said.