Suspect Shot By Sheriff's Deputy In Lake Forest Standoff

LAKE FOREST, CA — An Orange County Sheriff's Department deputy shot and wounded an armed suspect on a residential street in Lake Forest early Thursday morning, ending a three-hour standoff.

The shooting occurred near Calle Vecindad and Paseo Vereda, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department. It started near midnight with a truck crash.

A witness called police to report that a dark-colored truck struck multiple parked cars in the 24000 block of Calle Vecindad. The driver refused to get out of the vehicle, according to the sheriff's department.

"When deputies arrived, they located a man locked in a dark-colored truck with a knife. The man initially refused to communicate with deputies and would not exit the vehicle," according to a statement by the sheriff's department. "Deputies were able to call the man’s cell phone and for almost three hours, deputies and the OC Sheriff’s Crisis Negotiations Team talked with the man."

At about 2:45 a.m., the man exited the truck holding a knife and charged at deputies, authorities said. That's when at least one deputy opened fire and the man was shot several times.

A knife believed to belong to the man has been recovered at the scene.

"The man was struck multiple times and deputies at the scene provided lifesaving measures. Orange County Fire Authority provided additional medical aid and transported the man to the hospital," according to the sheriff's department. "He underwent surgery and his condition is unknown at this time."

There are no additional suspects and no additional threats to the community, authorities said.

Authorities did not immediately release the suspect's identity.

The investigation of the deputy-involved shooting will be handled by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Deputies in Lake Forest are equipped with body-worn cameras to assist in the investigation.