Staff Report

Early Tuesday morning, a Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy fatally shot a woman in Corona under circumstances where she and a man were reportedly attacking the deputy, with the man allegedly reaching for his gun.

The incident occurred at approximately 1:10 a.m. in the 1000 block of West 6th Street. The Sheriff’s Department disclosed in a news release that the identity of the woman has not been made public.

The confrontation began when the deputy attempted to engage with some individuals who then fled. While pursuing them, a man reportedly lunged at the deputy, initiating a struggle. During this altercation, a woman allegedly began to assault the deputy, leading to the deputy-involved shooting, according to the Sheriff’s statement. The woman’s identity, as well as that of the deputy, have not been released.

The Sheriff’s Department’s statement further explained that the woman was struck by gunfire during the encounter. The deputy continued to fend off the male suspect, who was attempting to seize his firearm, until bystanders intervened to help subdue the suspect.

The Sheriff’s Department has not provided details on why the deputy initially approached the individuals or the specifics of how the bystanders assisted in the situation. The woman was declared dead at a local hospital, but it remains unclear whether the deputy intentionally shot her, if she was accidentally hit, or if the gun discharged unintentionally.

The deputy sustained moderate injuries, while the male suspect had minor injuries. The deputy has been placed on paid administrative leave while the state Department of Justice investigates the shooting.