A frightening incident occurred early on Halloween when an AR-15-wielding vigilante accidentally shot a San Joaquin County sheriff’s deputy while chasing a group of robbery suspects, authorities said.
At 1:26 a.m. Thursday, deputies responded to an alarm at Pick N Pull, a used auto parts store and salvage yard in Stockton. Upon arrival, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement on social media that they chased the group of three suspects along a nearby canal, and two deputies chased a group of three suspects along a nearby canal, where two deputies ran into a cement fence separating a Buddhist temple from a residence. He hid in the shadows.
Officials said the west side homeowner was alerted by a security camera on his front porch and instead of calling 911, he contacted his grandson.
Authorities said Son was armed with an AR-15 and began searching for the suspect in a golf cart. He allegedly encountered two deputies at a Buddhist temple and opened fire before they could come forward.
Authorities said the man fired two shots, one of which hit the cement wall directly below where the deputy was hiding. Deputies did not fight back.
The man, identified by authorities as Richard Gonzalez, 38, of Stockton, was later taken into custody without incident at the direction of officers.
“Please call law enforcement. Make that your first attempt,” a sheriff’s spokesperson told the Times.
Gonzalez was arrested on charges including assault with a deadly weapon and possession of an assault weapon with a high capacity magazine and silencer.
“This incident highlights the critical importance of having trained law enforcement available to respond to dangerous situations,” the release said. “Taking the law into your own hands can intensify conflict and lead to tragic outcomes.”
