The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office has released a report detailing the fatal shooting of an Adelanto man amid a gunbattle with a sheriff’s deputy more than three years ago, ruling the deputy’s actions were justified.
County prosecutors this week released their use-of-force review into the Oct. 24, 2022 shooting of Ezekiel Lamar Love, 22, of Adelanto. The deadly encounter took place at Arlington and Henderson streets.
Shortly before the shooting, deputies were called to a report of an unwanted person at a home in the 15100 block of Christopher Street, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department officials said at the time.
A man called 911 and reported that his son, later identified as Love, “was kicking the door, refusing to leave his residence, and was threatening to become violent,” according to the district attorney’s office report. The caller also reported that his son “threatened to become violent with deputies.”
Responding deputies found Love had already left the area on foot when they arrived to investigate, officials said. They began searching for Love.
Deputy Jacob Delano of the Sheriff’s Victor Valley Station soon spotted love in the area of Arlington and Henderson streets. He stopped his patrol car and noted that “Love appeared agitated at his presence,” the report stated.
The deputy reported over the radio that he was about to contact the suspect.
“As Deputy Delano finished broadcasting, Love started shooting at Deputy Delano,” according to the DA’s office report. “Deputy Delano feared for his life. Love fired several more shots at Deputy Delano. Deputy Delano exited his patrol vehicle and ran to the back of it for cover.”
“Deputy Delano could see and hear Love still shooting at him,” the report continued. “Deputy Delano drew his firearm and shot back at Love.”
Delano fired 13 rounds at Love, according to the report.
Love fell to the ground wounded and medical aid was summoned. He died from his wounds at a hospital a short time later.
Delano’s patrol car was struck several times by gunfire, but the deputy himself was not hit, officials said.
Investigators recovered a 9mm handgun at the scene.
The report determined that Delano acted lawfully.
“Based on the facts presented in the reports and the applicable law, Deputy Jacob Delano’s use of lethal force was a proper exercise of his right of self-defense and therefore his actions were legally justified,” the report concluded.
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This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Report details deadly 2022 gunfight between Adelanto man, deputy
Reporting by Brian Day, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Brian Day, Victorville Daily Press | USA TODAY Network
