Full Notification

At approximately 6:45 a.m. this morning, Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a possible break in at a business on La Patera Lane in Goleta and a stolen vehicle. An employee arrived at work finding the back door to the business had been broken into and a work truck was missing. About an hour later at 7:45 a.m. the business owner called 9-1-1 to report he had located the stolen vehicle in the 100 block of Ocean View Avenue near Carpinteria where a former employee, 31-year-old Kristopher Kump, resided in a trailer. He also reported that he had contacted Kump outside of the trailer and Kump displayed a firearm.

Sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol officers responded to the scene. When Sheriff’s deputies arrived, they attempted to contact Kump but he was unresponsive. Due to the fact that he was reportedly armed and refusing to come outside, the Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Team was deployed. The Santa Barbara County Air Support Unit, Sheriff’s K9 Unit, Sheriff’s Hostage Crisis Negotiation Team, Lompoc Police Department personnel, American Medical Response paramedics, Carpinteria-Summerland Fire District and Montecito Fire Protection District personnel, also responded to assist.

Due to public safety concerns, about a dozen homes in the surrounding area were evacuated and surrounding streets were closed. The American Red Cross of Santa Barbara County and Santa Barbara County Animal Services responded to assist.

For several hours, Sheriff’s deputies attempted to contact Kump and made numerous announcements requesting that he peacefully surrender. Kump did not respond and appeared to be attempting to ignite fires inside the trailer. At several points, smoke was seen coming from the trailer.

In an effort to get Kump to come out, at approximately 12:40 p.m. the Special Enforcement Team deployed inflammable tear gas into the residence. Kump still did not respond but at approximately 1:00 p.m. a fire broke out in the trailer. Once the fire was out, Sheriff’s Enforcement Team members gained entry into the trailer. Inside they found the suspect deceased with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Kump was found to be wearing body armor and a bandoleer loaded with shotgun rounds. A handgun was located near his body. In Kump’s trailer, additional weapons were located including two shotguns, a military style rifle with a grenade launcher attachment, approximately one thousand rounds of ammunition and smoke grenades. Evidence of narcotics was also located in the trailer. Based on evidence found at the scene, preliminary indications are that Kump ignited a fire and then shot himself in the head.

Kump had been arrested the previous night, November 18, in the 4600 block of Carpinteria Avenue for possession of a controlled substance for sales. His car was towed. Kump was transported to the Santa Barbara County Jail but required medical treatment. He was taken to the hospital for treatment and released from custody. He fled from the hospital at 2:00 a.m. against medical advice.

The Sheriff’s Coroner’s Unit is conducting a death investigation. The official cause and manner of death is pending toxicology and lab results which will take several weeks to complete.