The half-brother of a man found hanged from a tree in Palmdale last week, prompting outrage and investigations into what investigators initially labeled an apparent suicide, was killed during a gunfight with Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies in Rosamond on Wednesday, family members said.
The shooting took place shortly after 4:30 p.m. in the 3400 block of 15th Street, just across the Los Angeles County line in Kern County, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Sheriff’s officials did not identify the dead man, but family members identified him in a statement as Terron Jammal Boone.
“This afternoon I had to notify the sisters of Robert Fuller that their half-brother Terron Jammal Boone was killed by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies in Kern County,” family spokesman Jamon Hicks said.
“At this time, until we receive all of the information, the family and their legal team doesn’t have any further comment on this incident. The family respectfully asks that their privacy be respected.”
A team of deputies had been looking for the suspect, who was wanted in connection with a kidnapping, spousal assault and assault with a deadly weapons case, Lt. Robert Westfall of the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau said.
The deputies spotted a man believed to be the suspect riding as a passenger in a car and tried to pull it over, the lieutenant said.
“When the suspect stopped his vehicle, he opened the door and began shooting at the deputies, and a deputy-involved shooting occurred,” Westfall said.
The suspect was struck multiple times in the upper body and died at the scene, officials said.
The woman who had been driving the car was shot in the chest and hospitalized in stable condition, according to Westfall. A 7-year-old girl who had been riding in the car was unhurt.
A handgun was found at the scene, Westfall said.
Sheriff’s officials declined to discuss the identity of the suspect.
“We are aware of the reports that the suspect is possibly related to Robert Fuller, but at this time, the coroner has not positively identified the suspect and there has been no next of kin notification, so we’re not in a position to confirm or deny that report,” Westfall said.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the city in which Robert Fuller’s body was found. The story has been updated.