Paso Robles shooting suspect identified as search continues overnight
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Update, 6 a.m.
The suspect in a series of Wednesday shootings in Paso Robles that killed one man and injured a San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s deputy remains at large, according to law enforcement officials.
The county Sheriff’s Special Weapons and Tactics team spent late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning searching for Mason James Lira, 26, in the area of the Salinas River bottom from south Paso Robles to Templeton, according to Sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Odom.
CHP helicopter H70 and the agency’s fixed-wing plane also assisted in the search, along with the Paso Robles Police Department and other agencies.
The search for Lira continued on Thursday after he was spotted at a gas station near Templeton.
Original story
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of the suspect in Wednesday’s shooting in Paso Robles as multiple law enforcement agencies continued their search throughout the night.
According to a news release Wednesday night, the suspect has been identified as 26-year-old Mason James Lira, a homeless man from the Monterey area. San Luis Obispo Superior County Court records do not show any local criminal cases filed against Lira.
Despite a widespread search around downtown Paso Robles for much of Wednesday, Lira is still at large and is considered armed and dangerous according to the news release.
The search accelerated late Wednesday night in the area around Niblick Road from Spring Street to the riverbed behind Kohl’s, the Paso Robles Press reported, including new reports of shots fired.
But as of 1 a.m., the suspect had not been located.
Lira allegedly opened fire on the Paso Robles police station around 3:45 a.m., after being seen on surveillance cameras lurking outside the building.
A sheriff’s deputy who responded to the call was shot in the face. Several hours later, a 58-year-old homeless man was found dead with a gunshot wound to the back of his head near the Paso Robles train station.
Police believe both incidents to be connected.
If a member of the public spots Lira, they are advised to not make contact with him and instead should call 911 and report his location to law enforcement.
This story was originally published June 10, 2020 at 9:43 PM.
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