California Deputies Shot Responding To Call At Marijuana Grow House Expected To Recover

YUBA COUNTY, CA — Two deputies with the Yuba County Sheriff's Office in California who were shot and injured Tuesday morning as they responded to a call of an agitated and possibly armed suspect are in serious condition but are expected to recover, officials said.

The Yuba County Sheriff's Office said the two veteran deputies had responded to a dispute at a marijuana grow house involving a man who was reportedly armed with a gun. When officers arrived, a suspect matching the description provided by callers was seen by deputies and the man fled on foot, officials said.

The foot pursuit ended when the suspect fled into a trailer. Deputies were given permission to enter the trailer by the owner and as both deputies were inside clearing the residence, the suspect emerged and fired upon the deputies, striking them both multiple times, officials say. A third deputy positioned at the back of the residence entered the home and carried both deputies to safety while waiting for backup.

The sheriff's office said the third deputy did not fire his weapon and was not injured. A barricade situation ensued and just before 2 p.m., SWAT entered the home and found the suspect deceased from gunshot wounds.

"It is unknown at this time if the gunshot wounds were as a result of the deputies return fire, or if they were self-inflicted," officials said in a press release.

The suspect's cause of death has not been determined. Authorities have not identified the man and detectives are investigating his identity and any relationship he had to the property where the shooting occurred.

Both deputies underwent surgery at Sutter Hospital in Roseville. One of the deputies has been with the department for 14 years and the other has been with the department for 10 years. The deputy that pulled the injured officers to safety has been with the department for 22 years.

Photo by Sophia Bollag/Associated Press