2 RivCo CHP Officers Honored After Gunfight With Beaumont Man

RIVERSIDE, CA — Two California Highway Patrol officers have been honored with the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor for their heroic actions during a deadly gunfight with a suspect who was having his vehicle impounded in Riverside.

The shooting occurred Aug. 12, 2019, in the area of Box Springs Boulevard and Eastridge Avenue, just west of Interstate 215. Officers Robert Paul and Ryan Smith were honored Monday.

CHP Officer Andre Moye, 34, had just pulled over a GMC pickup truck for an unknown violation and was doing paperwork to have the truck towed when the suspect pulled a weapon from the truck and opened fire on the officer, according to CHP Assistant Chief Scott Parker.

Moye was able to make a call for help, and Paul and Smith responded to the scene, as did Riverside Police Department officers and Riverside County sheriff's deputies.

Paul arrived and engaged in a gun battle with the suspect and was shot in both legs. Despite being wounded and laying on the ground, Paul continued to fire on the suspect, holding off the suspect until backup arrived.

As Smith arrived at the scene, his vehicle took fire from the suspect. Smith was able to get out the patrol car and return fire and, despite being wounded in both legs, was able to pull Paul over 100 feet to safety as more law enforcement personnel arrived and were able to draw fire away from the wounded officers.

Moye was killed in the shooting, and the suspect, identified as Aaron Luther, 49, of Beaumont, was mortally wounded by responding authorities.

"For their extraordinary bravery, heroism and courage in the face of imminent and personal life-threatening peril, Officer Paul's and Officer Smith's actions were above and beyond the call of duty and exemplify the highest standards of a California public safety officer," Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement.