A deputy in Corona fatally shot a woman early Tuesday morning after she and a male accomplice allegedly attacked him while he was attempting to make contact with them.

The incident occurred at approximately 1:10 AM in the 1600 block of West 6th Street, where the deputy was engaged with several individuals amid ongoing street repair work. Witnesses, including construction workers who had closed off the street, reported seeing the deputy pursuing a couple of people onto an empty property. Shortly thereafter, gunfire erupted.

As the deputy chased the suspects, he encountered a male suspect who lunged at him, leading to a physical altercation. According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, while the deputy was struggling with the male, a female suspect began assaulting him, prompting the deputy to discharge his weapon, striking the woman.

A good Samaritan intervened during the struggle, helping the deputy subdue the male suspect. The injured woman was transported to a local hospital but unfortunately succumbed to her injuries later that day.

The deputy sustained moderate injuries during the confrontation, while the male suspect suffered minor injuries. The deputy was treated and subsequently released from medical care.

Residents in the area have expressed mixed feelings about the incident. One local noted improvements in safety, saying, “They did a lot of cleanup around here and I feel safe walking around at night; you don’t feel like anything is bad.”

As a result of the shooting, the involved deputy has been placed on paid administrative leave, in accordance with departmental policy. The incident is currently under investigation by the Department of Justice.

No further details have been released regarding the identity of the woman who was shot or the specific circumstances that led to the deputy’s approach.