Kern County sheriff’s deputy killed, another wounded during standoff in Wasco

LATEST: ‘He was a star’: Kern sheriff mourns deputy killed during domestic violence call in Wasco

MONDAY 8 A.M.: The Kern County 999 Foundation identified the deputy killed Sunday in Wasco as Phillip Campas.

The foundation is a nonprofit that assists the families of fallen law enforcement officers.

The sheriff’s office announced that it will hold an 11 a.m. news conference.

SUNDAY 10 P.M.: A Kern County Sheriff’s deputy was killed and another wounded during a five-hour standoff in Wasco on Sunday, according to multiple sources.

Wasco Mayor Alex Garcia released a statement Sunday night confirming one of the deputies injured in the standoff died of his injuries.

“At this time I would like to share that my heart goes out to the families of both the deputies,” the mayor’s statement read. “Nothing can prepare us for tragedies such as these.”

KGET 17 News of Kern County shared video of first-responders lined up outside Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield to salute an American flag-draped body loaded into a hearse. A second video shows a procession including law enforcement as the hearse leaves the hospital.

As of 10 p.m., the Kern County Sheriff’s Office had not released any statements since its initial press conference just before 7 p.m. when a spokesman said one deputy suffered major injuries and another suffered moderate injuries in the shooting.

ORIGINAL STORY: Two Kern County Sheriff’s deputies have been shot leaving one with major injuries during a standoff in Wasco on Sunday, the sheriff’s office said.

According to Lt. Joel Swanson, at 1 p.m. deputies received reports of a shooting in a home on the 100 block of First Street in the city in the northwest part of the county. Deputies received more reports with shooting heard in the background and information of people down in the home.

Deputies arrived and were fired upon by someone in the home. The deputies were not struck and managed to take cover.

A SWAT team arrived and at around 2:50 p.m. began to try and make entry into the house. The suspect then began to fire at them from inside the home striking two deputies.

They were both taken to a nearby hospital where one was listed with major injuries and the other with moderate injuries.

The sheriff’s office said at around 6:28 p.m. the suspect and deputies began to exchange gunfire again, and the suspect was hit. The suspect was taken into custody and taken to a hospital where his condition was unknown.

Deputies entered the home and found at least two people wounded; their conditions were not immediately given.

This story was originally published July 25, 2021 at 7:36 PM.