Authorities ID Man Shot, Killed By 2 Deputies In Indian Wells

Palm Desert CA

16 February, 2021

12:26 PM

Description

INDIAN WELLS, CA — Deputies fatally shot a man who they say pointed a gun at them outside a country club in Indian Wells Monday. The man was identified Tuesday as Royce Robertson, 33, of Joshua Tree. Deputies initially got a call Monday morning that a motorist had brandished a firearm and threatened to kill another driver near Simon Drive and Highway 111 in La Quinta, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. But the suspect, later identified as Robertson, fled in a vehicle going westbound on Highway 111 before deputies could arrive. A deputy later spotted the suspect's vehicle about five miles away near Desert Horizons Drive and Highway 111 and pulled the suspect over as he attempted to enter the Desert Horizons Country Club, Sgt. Lionel Murphy said. "The vehicle came to a stop and the suspect exited the vehicle. The suspect was in possession of a handgun and pointed it at the deputies. At that time, a deputy involved shooting occurred," Murphy said. Sheriff's officials said the shooting occurred at around 7:25 a.m. Life-saving measures were attempted, but Robertson was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, Murphy said. Sheriff's officials said a handgun was recovered at the scene of the shooting. Authorities said the two deputies involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave per the department's policy. The Riverside County District Attorney's Office will lead the investigation into the shooting. An email sent by the Desert Horizons homeowner's association to its residents Monday morning said the shooting followed a pursuit on Highway 111 and that "police were close behind the suspect and they shot and killed the man at our front gate." "No one from Desert Horizons was injured and all is secure," the letter read. A road closure was in place at Desert Horizons Drive and Highway 111, and authorities asked the public to avoid the area.