Newly released police video shows the moment a California gunman accused of killing a sheriff’s detective was fatally flattened by an armored BearCat vehicle after an hours-long standoff.
Video from the April 8 confrontation, shared by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, shows deputies pinned down by relentless gunfire before the suspect, David Eric Morales, is ultimately subdued by an armored vehicle after repeatedly ignoring commands to drop his weapon.
The footage begins with deputies approaching a Porterville home to deliver an eviction notice, but within moments, chaos explodes around them.
Gunshots ring out as deputies scramble for cover, with investigators later saying Morales appeared to have “lain in wait” for law enforcement officers before opening fire with a high-powered rifle.
Deputy Randy Hoppert — a detective with the sheriff’s office and former Navy corpsman — was struck during the ambush and later died at a hospital.
Authorities said the confrontation spiraled into a tense hours-long siege as Morales barricaded himself inside the home while repeatedly firing at deputies and tactical equipment outside.
Sheriff Mike Boudreaux previously said Morales even shot a drone out of the sky while multiple armored vehicles withstood gunfire during the standoff.
Later in the footage, Morales is seen outside the house, sprawled out in the brush and clad in camouflage, as deputies reputedly shout commands for him to surrender.
“The suspect was lying prone on the ground, in camouflage clothing, continuing to pose a threat,” Boudreaux said during a prior news conference.
Moments later, a sheriff’s deputy drove a BearCat armored vehicle directly over the suspect.
“The situation was resolved, and the suspect is now dead. He was not shot. One of the BearCats ran over him and killed him,” Boudreaux said at the time.
Authorities said Morales had not paid rent for 35 days and deputies were serving a final eviction notice when the deadly run-in unfolded around 10:40 a.m.
Hoppert, who joined the sheriff’s office in January 2020 after serving in the military from 2010 to 2015, was rushed to Sierra View District Hospital but died from his injuries.
“This situation went from a civil order of removal to where our officer was shot and killed. This is senseless,” Boudreaux said.
The sheriff later delivered a blunt warning about the suspect’s fate.
“Don’t shoot at cops. You shoot at cops, we’re going to run you over. He got run over. He got what he deserved,” Boudreaux told reporters.
Boudreaux also said he met with Hoppert’s grieving wife and mother following the detective’s death.
“I can tell you there is no consoling that family at this point,” the sheriff said. “Attacks on law enforcement of this nature must stop.”
