BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Sheriff Donny Youngblood held a live press briefing Friday morning to talk about two recent shootings involving two of his sheriff deputies, in a climate where he says law enforcement is facing more attacks.
Youngblood released limited bodycam footage from both incidents.
On Tuesday, Deputy Ubaldo Weiss was investigating a stolen vehicle in Oildale with two people inside, when the suspect Ricardo Usher ran at him from behind holding something in his hand.
Deputy Weiss fired two shots stopping Usher who was taken to the hospital where he is recovering.
Youngblood said investigators discovered afterward that he was holding a cell phone.
The other incident took place on Sept. 3 near Randsburg.
Deputy Chris Saldana arrived to reports of a man with a gun on the side of the road. The suspect, identified as Fernando Naples, reportedly got out of the car and challenged Saldana to a fight.
Youngblood says as the deputy retreated, Naples ran back to his car and got a shotgun. Deputy Saldana fired at Naples as a California Highway Patrol officer arrived at the location.
Naples died at the scene.
Neither deputy was injured.
