Police ID Man Fatally Shot During Armed Confrontation In Livermore Mobile Home Park

LIVERMORE, CA — Livermore resident James Terry Midkiff, 54, who was fatally shot by police Wednesday night, initially confronted officers while carrying a rifle and later armed himself with a shotgun, police officials said. Police were dispatched to the Sun Valley Mobile Home Park located in the 1300 block of Via Deste before 9 p.m. Wednesday night after numerous residents called to report a man who was outside acting “bizarrely” and challenging people to fight. When officers arrived, the man, who was carrying a rifle, ran into the house after refusing to obey the officer’s commands.

The homes surrounding Midkiff’s were evacuated and officers brought in a crisis negotiator who tried to talk to the Midkiff for two hours. During the negotiations, several shots were heard inside the home. Police said officers noticed flames coming from inside Midkiff’s mobile home just before 11 p.m.

“Midkiff came out of the residence holding a shotgun,” police said in a statement. “Officers used a less than lethal weapon in an attempt to disarm Midkiff but that turned out to be ineffective. Midkiff pointed the shotgun at officers and they were forced to defend themselves. Four Livermore officers fired their weapons, striking Midkiff.”

Police said the officers moved Midkiff away from the burning home and rendered first aid while firefighters extinguished the blaze. Midkiff died at the scene. No one else was injured during the incident.

Livermore police, the Alameda County District Attorney's Office and the Alameda County Arson Task Force are investigating this case. Officer Daniel Masingale, Officer Matthew Williams, Officer Matthew Ishmael and Officer Alejandro Gutierrez have all been put on paid administrative leave during the investigation.

“We ask that you keep the Midkiff family in your thoughts as they deal with their loss,” police officials said. “We also ask that the community keep the men and women of the Livermore Police Department in your thoughts as they desperately tried to bring this critical incident to a peaceful resolution.”

Related:

• Police Fatally Shoot Man Armed With Shotgun In Livermore

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