Wednesday, 12 August 2026, 9:33
A mental health call in Moreno Valley ended with sheriff's deputies firing at a person who, according to authorities, left a home and pointed a gun at officers. The shooting occurred Friday, Aug. 7. The person was wounded and is in critical condition.
Deputies from the Moreno Valley sheriff's station responded Friday afternoon to a report of a mental health crisis at a home in the 11000 block of Villa Hermosa. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department described the call as a person "experiencing a mental health episode." The Los Angeles Times reported the call came in at 4:10 p.m., while NBC Los Angeles and ABC7 said officers arrived just after 4 p.m.
A clinical therapist from the Riverside County Community Behavioral Assessment Team responded with deputies. Deputies and the therapist spoke with the person who made the report outside, according to the Sheriff's Department. While they were speaking, officials say the person believed to be in crisis came out of the residence and pointed a gun. The Sheriff's Department said the person who exited the home was the person experiencing the mental health crisis. At that point, "a deputy-involved shooting occurred," the department said. The Los Angeles Times refers to this person as another person leaving the residence. Deputies opened fire. The Sheriff's Department said at least one deputy shot the person.
The Sheriff's Office has not identified the person who was shot. Authorities also have not released the identities of the deputies involved in the shooting. ABC7 described the injured person as a man. NBC Los Angeles reported it remains unclear whether more than one deputy fired. The person was given first aid by officers and paramedics, then taken to a hospital in critical condition. No deputies were injured.
The Riverside County Sheriff's Force Investigation Detail is handling the investigation. The deputies involved were placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard policy after an officer-involved shooting. Lt. Deirdre Vickers said the investigation is ongoing and did not provide details on whether a firearm was recovered or if deputies had previously been called to the residence. The Sheriff's Department said no further details, including any information about the person who was shot, were released.
Authorities asked anyone with information regarding the incident to contact Senior District Attorney Investigator Mario Moreno or Riverside County Sheriff's Investigator Scott Anderson at 951-955-2777.
Moreno Valley is a city in Riverside County, about 60 miles east of Los Angeles. The shooting took place in a residential neighborhood. The response included the county's specialized mental health team, part of a broader effort to pair law enforcement with clinical professionals during crisis calls.
The Community Behavioral Assessment Team is designed to help deputies de-escalate mental health situations. Officer-involved shootings during mental health calls remain a focus of public scrutiny across Southern California, with advocates calling for more investment in mental health response alternatives.
The investigation will determine whether the use of force was justified. The identity of the injured person has not been released, and more details may come as the Riverside County Sheriff's Office completes its review.
