Rene Herrera

Deadly force

After 6 p.m., deputies got a call about three men in a black BMW approaching people, asking them where they are from and showing a firearm. The three men allegedly had gang ties. Deputies found the other and driver Rene Herrera fled, stopping when he came to a fence in Salazar Park. One of the three men fled on foot and was apprehended, Herrera and Fernando Cruz remained in the car. Three sheriff's vehicles with six personnel total arrived in succession. Herrera exited his other shooting and injured two deputies and a ride-along in the first police car that arrived. Herrera shot an injured a deputy from a second car, as all the deputies involved returned fire, fatally wounding Herrera. A deputy from a third car thought he saw Cruz brandish a silver handgun in the back of the BMW and shot and killed Cruz. The handgun turned out to be a silver flashlight. All deputies cleared of any criminal wrongdoing.