Tulare County Deputy Dies After Shooting During Eviction Call in Porterville; Suspect Still at Large
A deputy from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office has died after being shot during a violent incident tied to an eviction call in Porterville on Wednesday morning, according to Sheriff Mike Boudreaux.
Sheriff Boudreaux confirmed that the local hospital rushed the deputy after the shooting, but he later succumbed to his injuries. Authorities described the loss as devastating and said the deputy was killed in the line of duty. 
The incident began around 10:20 a.m. near Grand Avenue and Newcomb Street, when deputies with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office were serving an eviction notice at a residence in the 1700 block of W. Brian Avenue. Officials say the situation escalated when 60-year-old suspect David Morales opened fire on deputies.
Authorities consider Morales, an ex-Marine born in 1966, armed and extremely dangerous. Sheriff’s officials say he remains outstanding and may still be firing shots while barricaded inside a nearby home. 
Law enforcement has deployed SWAT teams and armored units, including a BearCat vehicle, as they attempt to contain the situation. Witnesses reported seeing a man in camouflage armed with a rifle in the area as gunfire continued throughout the response.
Residents in the surrounding area have been ordered to shelter in place, and authorities are urging the public to avoid the vicinity entirely while the operation continues. 
Several schools in the region remain on lockdown as a precaution. Sheriff Boudreaux has also urged parents not to pick up students unless directed by officials, emphasizing that movement in and out of the area could interfere with emergency operations.
According to the Porterville Police Department, the incident spans multiple nearby streets, including Brian Lane near Pioneer Avenue and Newcomb Street, where officers have been actively engaged in containment efforts.
Sheriff Boudreaux said he has personally met with the fallen deputy’s family and offered condolences, calling the situation “shocking and heartbreaking” for the entire department.
Authorities persist in urging anyone in the area to stay sheltered and await official instructions as the search for the suspect continues.