Full Notification

DATE/TIME: Tuesday, January 17, 2017/03:22 a.m.

INCIDENT: Man with a Gun/Attempted Murder/Deputy Involved Shooting

LOCATION: Motel 6 - 72562 Twentynine Palms Hwy, Twentynine Palms

VICTIM: Two San Bernardino County Deputy Sheriff’s

SUSPECTS: Adult male, age 39 a resident of Yucca Valley
Tani Garcia, age 39 a resident of Yucca Valley – arrested for Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance
SUMMARY:
On Tuesday, January 17th, at approximately 3:22 a.m., deputies from the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station/Twentynine Palms Police Department responded to Motel 6 on Twentynine Palms Hwy following the report of a man with a gun. Deputies were advised that the reporting party was a guest at the hotel. Deputies responded to the location, conducted an area check, and did not locate any suspicious persons. Deputies then knocked on the motel room door, identifying themselves as San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, in efforts to get additional information from the reporting party. Deputies heard a gunshot from inside the room; the door immediately opened, and the suspect fired a handgun at deputies. Fearing for their safety, deputies returned fire and retreated to cover. The suspect went back into the room and closed the door.

Deputies ordered the suspect to surrender and exit the room with his hands up peacefully. The suspect did not comply with the deputies’ demands. A female adult, later identified as Tani Garcia, exited the room and was detained by deputies. Garcia informed the deputies that the male suspect was armed; he was alive but injured. She stated they had been up for several days smoking methamphetamine and checked into the room a few hours earlier because they feared they were being followed by unknown persons who wanted to kill them.

SWAT personnel responded to the location and continued to try to communicate with the suspect. At approximately 8:00 a.m., SWAT personnel used a robot equipped with a camera to enter the room. The suspect appeared to be deceased. Deputies and fire personnel entered the room and confirmed the suspect was deceased. Deputies located a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun near the suspect. Two additional loaded magazines were located in his pants pocket. The suspect was transported to the Riverside County Coroner’s Officer where an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause and manner of death.

Investigators from the Specialized Investigations Division, Homicide Detail, responded to the location and are conducting the investigation. Tani Garcia was arrested, transported and booked into the Morongo Basin Station for HS11550 Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance.

Several guests at the motel were evacuated for their safety during the incident. No other persons or deputies were injured.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact Detective Gary Hart or Sergeant John Gaffney (909) 387-3589. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to contact the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or via their website at www.wetip,.com

Refer: Detective Gary Hart or Sergeant John Gaffney

Station: Specialized Investigations Division Homicide Detail

Phone No. (909) 387-3589

Case No. H#2017-006/201700063

John McMahon, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department