"He chose this ending": Suspect dead, detective killed after Porterville shooting
Published on April 10, 2026.
Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux has confirmed that a deputy-involved shooting in Porterville, California, has resulted in the death of Detective Randy Hoppert, a five-year veteran of the department and former Navy corpsman who served from 2010 to 2015. The suspect, identified as David Eric Morales, opened fire on deputies while deputies were serving an eviction notice. During the standoff, Morales hid in nearby brush and continued to fire at officers. He was eventually run over by a law enforcement BearCat vehicle and killed after continuing to pose a threat. No additional injuries have been reported since the initial shooting. The investigation remains ongoing and additional updates are expected.
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