Lake Elsinore Felon Killed By Deputy Gunfire: Video Released By RCSD

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A wanted felon from Lake Elsinore opened fire on deputies during an attempted traffic stop in unincorporated area before he was fatally shot by the law enforcement officers, a video released Wednesday by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department shows. (Warning: The video is unsuitable for children and may be disturbing for some viewers.)

Ricky Owen Dowling, 64, was pronounced dead at the scene of the April 26 shooting near Telford Avenue and Peach Street in the unincorporated community of Meadowbrook, near state Route 74.

The newly released video narrated by Sheriff Chad Bianco shows deputy patrol vehicles chasing Dowling as he drove a light-colored sedan along Meadowbrook Avenue. The chase began around 7 p.m. after deputies spotted the wanted man get into the vehicle in the nearby 27000 block of Greenwald Avenue. Dowling was sought on two outstanding warrants: One for torture, mayhem, spousal abuse, and sexual acts by force; and the other for kidnapping to commit rape by force or fear, according to Bianco.

Video captured from a sheriff's helicopter shows deputies trying to pull Dowling over, but he speeds off. Less than two miles into the chase, the Lake Elsinore man loses control of the car while trying to avoid spike strips laid down by deputies. The car veers off the road at Peach and Telford, which is when Dowling gets out of the vehicle, pointing what appears to be a gun at deputies, the video shows.

Audio is heard from the helicopter crew above. "Watch crossfire, doors open, and stand by. Shots fired, shots fired, shots fired, and suspect down."

Body-worn camera video from two involved deputies shows they both fired multiple rounds at Dowling.

According to Bianco, Dowling fired first.

"The suspect was positively identified as Dowling when he exited the vehicle," the sheriff states in the video. "Dowling pointed a handgun at pursuing deputies, fired the weapon, and a deputy-involved shooting occurred."

Medical aid was rendered, but Dowling died at the scene, according to Bianco.

The firearm used by Dowling was a Polymer P-80 semi-automatic handgun, according to the sheriff. The weapon, often referred to as a "ghost gun," is illegal in California unless it goes through the state's registration process.

The Riverside County District Attorney's Office and the sheriff's department are continuing to investigate the shooting, according to Bianco. The names of the involved deputies were not released.

Dowling's criminal history dates back to the 1980s, according to Riverside County court records.