Porterville Shooting: Detective Killed, Suspect Dies in Standoff Involving Armored Vehicle

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:32:00 +0200

A tragic incident unfolded in Porterville, California, on Thursday, April 9, 2026, resulting in the death of a Tulare County Sheriff’s Deputy and the subsequent death of a suspect during a bizarre standoff. Deputy Randy Hoppert, 35, was fatally shot while responding to a call for assistance during an eviction notice being served. The suspect, identified as 59-year-old David Morales, barricaded himself inside his home and exchanged gunfire with officers, initially wounding Deputy Hoppert. An eight-hour standoff ensued, during which Morales reportedly shot down a law enforcement drone and continued to fire at officers. The situation culminated in a sheriff's armored vehicle unintentionally running over and killing Morales. Sheriff Mike Boudreaux confirmed the incident, emphasizing that the suspect was not shot but was killed by the vehicle. Deputy Hoppert, a six-year veteran of the department and former Navy corpsman, leaves behind a pregnant wife. Morales, who possessed 18 registered fi