Lake Elsinore Man Accused Of Shooting, Killing RivCo Deputy: Police

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A 42-year-old Lake Elsinore man is accused of shooting and killing a Riverside County deputy Friday, according to authorities.

Riverside County Sheriff's Office said Jesse Navarro is accused of shooting Deputy Darnell Calhoun as he responded to a domestic violence and child custody call near Lake Elsinore. Calhoun died later at a nearby hospital.

The shooting came 15 days after Deputy Isaiah Albert Cordero was fatally shot during a traffic stop in Jurupa Valley on Dec. 29, the first line-of-duty death of a Riverside County sheriff's deputy in 15 years.

• RELATED: RivCo Deputy Mourned After Fatal Shooting Near Lake Elsinore

Deputies were dispatched to the 18500 block of Hilldale Lane, just east of Grand Avenue, in the unincorporated community bordering Lake Elsinore, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Calhoun was the first deputy at the scene, Sheriff Chad Bianco said Friday.

According to a news release, Navarro began shooting at Calhoun as the residence. As another deputy arrived, police said Navarro fired a gun at them as well. The deputy returned fire, wounding Navarro before he was taken into custody.

Navarro was taken to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries. Police said he is in critical condition.

The deputy involved in the shooting was placed on paid administrative leave according to Department policy. Authorities did not release the deputy's name.

The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office is leading the investigation. Anyone with information about the shooting should contact DA Investigator Mario Moreno at 951-334-0407 or mariomoreno@rivcoda.org, or Riverside County Sheriff’s Investigator Jarred Bishop at 951-955-1700.

Sheriff Bianco announced Calhoun's death Friday during a 9 p.m. news conference outside Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar where Calhoun died.

Bianco described Calhoun as a "husband, a son and would have been a dad," adding the slain deputy's wife is pregnant.

"I shouldn't be here tonight having to do this again," Bianco said. "I'm devastated to tell of the loss of another of our deputy sheriffs who was killed in the line of duty today."

It's unclear whether charges have been filed against Navarro.

City News Service contributed to this report.