Mason James Lira

Deadly force

Mason James Lira was diagnosed with schizophrenia, Asperger's syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to his father. Armed with two handguns and boxes of ammunition, Lira ambushed the Paso Robles police outside their building, shooting one officer in the face. For the next 36 hours, multiple police agencies searched for the shooter, who managed to shoot back and escape several times, injuring three officers. Lira attempted to flee from a riverbed to a vineyard when officers finally shot and killed him.