SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KTXL) — A Sacramento County sheriff’s deputy, a K-9 and a driver deputies chased to a Cal Expo parking lot late Monday were all killed in a shootout, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office identified the deputy as 31-year-old Adam Gibson.
Sheriff Scott Jones told reporters two deputies approached a driver in a parking lot at the Ardendale strip mall on Arden Way around 10 p.m. Monday. The vehicle matched the description of one connected to a series of burglaries, according to the sheriff’s office.
The deputies approached the car and spoke with the driver, who they say was acting strange. They soon realized the man behind the wheel was on active parole. He was later identified as 46-year-old Robert Stephen Calderon.
When the deputies attempted to search his vehicle, the sheriff’s office says Calderon drove off, quickly kicking off a pursuit that raced into the Cal Expo complex.
Jones says the short pursuit ended when Calderon’s vehicle hit a curb and crashed near a chain link fence in a Cal Expo parking lot in the area of Hurley and Ethan ways. Within minutes, Jones said a handful of deputies arrived to assist the initial ones who first conducted the stop.
The sheriff’s office says deputies gave several commands for Calderon to leave his vehicle but he refused. That’s when they used bean bag rounds to shoot out his back window in an attempt to see inside.
A handler then released his dog, K-9 Riley, into the vehicle’s broken window. Jones says Calderon immediately fired a gun, ultimately killing Riley, Gibson and wounding another deputy.
The sheriff’s office says several other deputies returned fire, killing Calderon.
Jones said the time between the crash and the shooting was about 15 minutes.
Gibson was taken to the hospital where he later died.
The other deputy is in serious but stable condition at UC Davis Medical Center, according to the sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office has not identified him but says he is 43 years old and a 13-year veteran of the department.
Gibson was with the sheriff’s office for six years and was most recently a K-9 handler, Jones said. Prior to that, he served two tours in Afghanistan as a Marine. In 2018, Gibson was given a medal for using a bus to bring a man who was dangling from an overpass to safety.
He leaves behind his wife, Rachel, and 9-month-old daughter.
“Obviously, she’s going to be going through something she should never have to go through,” Jones said. “And they have a very small infant that is going to grow up without a father.”
A procession was held for the fallen deputy as he was transported to the coroner’s office.
K-9 Riley was 5 years old and had been in service with the sheriff’s office for three years.
A number of Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office vehicles responded to the area near Hurley and Ethan ways and blocked off surrounding streets with police tape until around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The shooting investigation will be conducted by several agencies, including the sheriff’s professional standards division, the Sacramento Police Department’s homicide division, the district attorney’s office and the inspector general.
The sheriff said there was no reason to believe the shooting was an ambush or a planned attack.
The CAHP Credit Union has established a memorial fund for Gibson.
Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statement Tuesday evening on Gibson’s death:
Jennifer and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Sheriff’s Deputy Gibson and the departmental canine who lost their lives in this tragic incident. Our thoughts are also with the Deputy who was injured last night. Deputy Gibson will forever be remembered for his selfless sacrifice and his commitment to providing safety and security for the Sacramento community.
Gov. Gavin Newsom
