Jenny Lind, CA…On October 9, 2022, at about 2:00 AM, the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch 911 Center received multiple reports of a person shooting in an unsafe manner in the 7000 block of Gabor Road in Jenny Lind (Calaveras County). While checking the area, deputies parked their vehicles on the roadway near where the shooting was reported. While attempting to locate the source of the disturbance, a suspect ambushed them with a firearm. Two rounds struck a patrol vehicle. Fearing for their safety, deputies took cover and began establishing a perimeter to ensure public safety and contain the suspect. The suspect sporadically fired from within a structure for approximately 30 minutes.

Calaveras County SWAT, Calaveras County Crisis Negotiation Team, Tuolumne County SWAT, and the California Highway Patrol responded to the location to assist with the incident. A command post was established to coordinate efforts while the Crisis Negotiation Team attempted to resolve the incident peacefully by communicating with the suspect via cellular telephone. Simultaneously, investigators sought out and received a warrant for the arrest of the suspect for the attempted murder of a peace officer. In addition, the investigators learned that the suspect was prohibited from possessing firearms.

At approximately 0545hrs, the suspect fired an additional shot from within a structure. The suspect was determined to be firing from within a garage that was detached from the residence. Deputies learned that a young juvenile was within the primary residence. Calaveras County SWAT, with the assistance of Tuolumne SWAT, conducted a coordinated rescue of the female from the primary residence. Team members were able to rescue the female without incident and take her to a secure location.

Contact via telephone was made with the suspect by trained Sheriff’s Office crisis negotiators. During the negotiations, the suspect was uncooperative and eventually, after several hours, the suspect terminated all contact. Calaveras County SWAT moved the armored vehicle near the detached garage and continued attempts to reengage negotiations with the suspect via the public address system and telephone. Despite their continued efforts, the suspect refused to cooperate.

Chemical agents were introduced into the detached garage. As deputies introduced the chemical agents, the suspect began firing at the deputies through the roll-up garage door. The deputies did not return fire and maintained their position of cover. The suspect then shot multiple rounds through a closed man door on the side of the garage. The deputies remained behind cover and did not engage or return fire. The suspect then exited the garage while armed with a high-powered assault rifle. Once outside of the garage, the suspect fired at several deputies in several locations. Deputies were forced to return fire. The suspect was struck by at least one round and was pronounced deceased at the scene by emergency medical personnel.

Members of the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Unit, Tuolumne County Investigations Unit, Calaveras County District Attorney’s Office, Tuolumne County District Attorney’s Office, California Highway Patrol Multidisciplinary Investigation Team, and the California State Department of Justice Crime Scene Investigators responded to the scene to conduct a multi-agency officer-involved shooting investigation. Involved deputies were placed on paid administrative leave per department policy.

This is all preliminary information. More information will be forthcoming in the following days with more details including how many officers were involved. Notification has been made to the suspects family by the Calaveras County Coroner. The suspect has been identified as David Arnold, 54 years of age, Valley Springs.