[Photo: Merced County Sheriff’s Office]
FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – The Merced County Sheriff’s Office has released the identity of the man killed in Friday’s officer-involved shooting in Atwater.
During a news conference on Monday, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office said 42-year-old Timothy Breckenridge of Merced was shot and killed in a home during a probation compliance check,
Two Merced County sheriff’s deputies; Sergeant Kevin Blake, and Deputy Brian Carbaugh, and Probation Supervisor Alex Cruz were involved in the shooting on March 30, 2018 as they were serving a warrant on the 3500 block of Atwater Boulevard.
[Photo: Merced County Sheriff’s Office]
Breckenridge had a felony warrant for his arrest.
Deputies say when they contacted Breckenridge in the house, he was holding what appeared to be a semi- automatic handgun.
They told him several times to put the gun down, but Breckenridge failed to comply.
The Merced County Sheriff’s Office said when he became a threat to Blake, Carbaugh, and Cruz, they were forced to defend themselves and opened fire.
Breckenridge succumbed to his injuries and died on scene.
Investigators have determined the firearm was actually a replica air soft type pistol that had been spray painted black with the orange tip removed to make it look like a real gun.
The Merced County Sheriff’s Office Detectives Bureau is investigating the incident and Sergeant Blake, Deputy Carbaugh, and Probation Officer Cruz have been place on administrative leave pending the investigation.
