STOCKTON- Vigilante Almost Shoots Deputies at Buddhist Temple

Per San Joaquin Sheriff:

“On October 31, 2024, at 1:26 AM, deputies responded to an alarm at Pick-N-Pull, located at 3927 Clark Dr. in Stockton. Upon arrival, they spotted three suspects fleeing west from the northeast perimeter of the property. Two deputies pursued the suspects along the canal, taking cover behind a cement fence that separates the Buddhist temple from a nearby residence.

Meanwhile, a homeowner to the west received an alert from a security camera at his front door. Instead of contacting law enforcement, he called his grandson, who armed himself with an AR-15 and began searching the area in a golf cart, mistakenly believing he was tracking the fleeing suspects.

The grandson soon encountered our deputies on the Buddhist temple property. Before they could announce their presence, he racked a round and fired two shots at them. In a display of remarkable restraint, both deputies took cover and issued commands to the armed individual, who complied without further incident. The suspect was subsequently taken into custody.

Miraculously, one of the shots fired struck the cement wall directly below where one of our Deputies had been monitoring for additional suspects. Not only did this jeopardize the safety of our Deputies, but the surrounding community who could have been struck by a stray bullet.

We commend our deputies for their leadership and composure during this critical situation, effectively directing fellow deputies to their position while maintaining control under fire.

This incident underscores the vital importance of allowing trained law enforcement to handle dangerous situations. Taking the law into your own hands can escalate conflicts and lead to tragic outcomes. We are grateful that our deputies returned home safely to their families, and we encourage the public to trust and support our law enforcement professionals in their crucial work.

The suspect was booked on multiple charges, including assault with a deadly weapon, possession of an assault weapon, possession of a high-capacity magazine, and possession of a silencer.”