Police Fatally Shoot Man On Morongo Indian Reservation

BANNING, CA — A man died after a shooting involving tribal police at the Morongo Indian Reservation in Banning, authorities confirmed Sunday.

Officers from the Morongo Tribal Police Department and a deputy from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department responded to a report of a dead body found at a house in the 12000 block of Santiago Road at around 5:45 a.m. Friday.

When they arrived, they were confronted by an armed man in his 50s and a shooting occurred involving a Morongo Tribal police officer, according to the police department.

The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.

No law enforcement officers were injured, and the original call of a dead body at the location was determined to be unfounded, the Morongo Tribal PD public information officer told City News Service.

The deceased man's identity was not immediately available, but authorities said he was not a tribal member.

Investigators say they found a suicide note at the residence, and determined there was no ongoing threat to the community.

The involved officer was placed on administrative leave, and no names were released per department policy.

Anyone with additional information about the suspect was encouraged to contact investigator Dan Moody at 760-393-3525.

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