Man fired gun at SLO County deputies before being fatally shot, sheriff says
Deputies shot and killed a man while the suspect pointed and fired a shotgun at them at a Nipomo apartment complex on Sunday night, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office said.
Deputies initially responded to a family disturbance at the San Luis Bay Apartments in the 700 block of Hill Street at 6:30 p.m. A man was reportedly threatening to kill his mother at the residence, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office.
After officers arrived, they contacted the suspect who was standing in the doorway of the ground-floor apartment. The man then backed inside, grabbed a shotgun and aimed it at the deputies, the release said.
“At that point, a deputy-involved shooting occurred,” the release said.
The Sheriff’s Office said the suspect fired his gun at the officers and the deputies then fired back, hitting the suspect.
Detectives are still investigating to determine who fired first during the gunfire exchange, Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Tony Cipolla told The Tribune.
Deputies attempted livesaving measures at the scene, but the man was declared dead. No officers were injured in the incident, according to the release.
The suspected was identified as 48-year-old Joseph Munoz. He would sometimes stay in Nipomo, but he did not have a known address, the agency said.
Munoz was previously convicted for several felonies, including domestic battery, DUI and possession of a controlled substance for sale, according to the release.
He also had a felony conviction for voluntary manslaughter and served 12 years in prison after he killed a man in a fight in June 2013, The Tribune previously reported.
The Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the incident, but “there is no threat to the public.”
The deputies involved in the shooting were placed on paid administrative leave and are getting support services, the agency said.
The Sheriff’s Office urged anyone with information to contact the department at 805-781-4500.
This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 3:45 PM.
