San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies fatally shot 78-year-old Paul Ronald Selby Friday after a standoff in Mentone, while separately wounding a knife-wielding suspect in Hesperia on Saturday.
Deputies kill elderly man in Mentone standoff
Authorities identified Paul Ronald Selby, 78, as the man shot and killed by San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies during a standoff in Mentone on Friday. Selby allegedly fired at tree trimmers working near his home on the 300 block of King Street around 10:50 a.m., prompting deputies to respond. Selby barricaded himself inside his residence, and deputies deployed crisis negotiators and a tactical team with armored vehicles. After multiple attempts to persuade him to exit failed, deputies used chemical agents to flush Selby’s wife from the home, though Selby remained inside. The standoff concluded around 2 p.m. when Selby fired at deputies, who returned fire and killed him. No deputies or civilians were injured during the incident.
Southern California Edison, which had sent the tree trimmers, confirmed the workers had found a safe location during the standoff. The sheriff’s department stated that medical personnel attempted lifesaving measures but Selby was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Knife-wielding suspect shot in Hesperia
On Saturday, deputies shot and wounded a knife-wielding man in Hesperia after he allegedly charged toward officers. The incident began just before 10 a.m. on August 15 near Main Street and Escondido Avenue, where deputies responded to reports of a man armed with a blood-covered knife. Authorities stated the man fled into the nearby California Aqueduct after refusing orders to drop the blade. Deputies attempted to pull him from the water with a rope but were unsuccessful. The man climbed out using a ladder and continued to advance toward deputies, prompting a deputy-involved shooting. The suspect was transported by helicopter to a trauma center for treatment. His identity and condition were not immediately released. No deputies were injured during the encounter.
The sheriff’s department confirmed the investigation remains ongoing and additional details would be released when available.