Nipomo gunman killed in shootout with sheriff’s deputies, CHP
A gunman who opened fire outside the Vons grocery store in Nipomo on Friday was killed in a shootout with San Luis Obispo County sheriff’s deputies and CHP officers, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
At about 11:15 a.m. Friday, San Luis Obispo County sheriff’s deputies received reports of an active shooter in Nipomo outside of Vons on Tefft Street, according to Sheriff’s Office public information officer Tony Cipolla.
The shooter was firing shots at random throughout the area and at people and vehicles passing by, Cipolla said.
“He was firing indiscriminately, so he was firing at moving vehicles, he was shooting all over the area. We aren’t exactly sure why at this time,” Cipolla said.
When sheriff’s deputies and the FBI arrived, they blocked off the area, closing Highway 101 Tefft Street off-ramps and Tefft Street at Oakglen Avenue.
At least two Vons employees were locked inside an office in the store while the shooting was taking place. No injuries were reported.
“We are still canvassing this whole area and trying to determine if there were indeed injuries,” Cipolla said.
After securing the area, deputies and CHP officers “engaged the active shooter,” resulting in his death, according to Cipolla.
In a news release later, the Sheriff’s Office said the suspect entered the Vons gas station and fired shots before exiting and shooting outside. Deputies and a CHP officer who arrived on-scene fired on the suspect, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Cipolla said not much information is available about the man at this time. They are withholding his name pending notification of next of kin.
He was armed with a handgun, and it is unknown at this time whether he had other weapons or what his motivation was, Cipolla said.
San Luis Obispo County sheriff’s officials said they believe there are no other suspects at this time.
Witness describes scene of shooting
A witness, Jeremy Bustamante, said he was driving in his truck when he saw the man shooting a handgun in the parking lot.
“After he had shot toward the gas station, he had started coming toward Traffic (Way),” Bustamante said. “He had fired off a couple rounds toward a passing fire truck. Afterwards, he crossed the median and stopped a Honda. And he was able to wave his handgun around, get the Honda driver to open his door, and he sat there a couple minutes.”
“After he had done those shots, he started walking toward the credit union,” Bustamante said. “I tried getting away from him. And that’s when I ended up in the driveway of the Vons gas station.”
“Around that time, a sheriff came around. ... I parked my truck and heard two shots go off. And after that, the guy was on the ground.”
The Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the suspect “made contact with a person driving a 4-door black hatchback vehicle on W. Tefft Street just east of Mary Avenue. Investigators are asking the driver of that vehicle to contact them with regards to this incident.”
The Sheriff’s Office is asking for any witnesses or anyone who might have video to contact them at 805-781-4500.
After the shooting, deputies remained on the scene Friday afternoon to complete their investigation and confirm there were no injuries.
This story was originally published August 21, 2020 at 11:56 AM.
