Sheriff’s deputies shoot, injure suicidal man

A suicidal man carrying a replica firearm was shot and injured by sheriff’s deputies Monday night in Windsor, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.

At 8:33 p.m., a 911 dispatcher received a call, but the caller quickly hung up. The dispatcher called back but there was no response, so they left a message, sheriff’s officials said.

Minutes later, the dispatcher received another call from the same number. The Spanish-speaking caller said he was at the Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church located at 8400 Old Redwood Highway in Windsor, and asked for an interpreter. As the dispatcher was transferring him to an interpreter, the man hung up.

At 8:43 p.m., deputies responded to the church to conduct a welfare check on the caller. Upon arrival, deputies observed an event taking place there and made contact with parishioners, but there did not seem to be any problem.

Deputies then checked the building’s rear parking lot and noticed a man sitting in the driver’s seat of a red Nissan Maxima. Deputies approached the vehicle and noticed the man was crying and talking on his phone. They also saw the he had what appeared to be a black semiautomatic handgun in his right hand, sheriff’s officials said.

After more deputies responded to assist, the man opened the car door several times, exited and then returned to the car. While deputies negotiated with the man, an ambulance arrived, surrounding roads were closed, and neighboring homes and the church were evacuated.

According to the sheriff’s office, at 9:21 p.m., the man exited the car while concealing his hands. One deputy fired and struck the man with a foam tip projectile. When he turned toward another deputy with the handgun, the deputy fired his shotgun, causing the man to fall to the ground.

The suspect was taken into custody, given first aid, and then taken to a hospital for treatment of his injuries. He was identified as Luis Alberto Olmedo, 25, of Windsor. He is expected to survive his injury.

Deputies determined that the man’s handgun was a replica.

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