Amador County – A 59-year-old Pine Grove man was shot and killed by Amador County Sheriff’s deputies Saturday after chasing a woman in Ranchouse Estates, stabbing a horse and charging at deputies while wielding a large knife.

Amador County Undersheriff Jim Wegner released details of the “officer involve shooting” Sunday, with a statement from Amador County Sheriff Martin Ryan.

Ryan in the release said at 5:46 p.m. Saturday, the Sheriff’s department received a 9-1-1 Emergency call from a 53-year-old female woman who lives on Primrose Lane in Pine Grove. She reported that “her 59-year-old male neighbor showed up at her property covered in blood.”

The woman said “the subject then broke into her residence and chased her into a pasture wherein she hid.” The release said she “did not report seeing the subject armed with any weapons however she did advise that the subject had access to a firearm within her residence.” The woman then fled to a nearby neighbor’s home.

Amador Sheriff’s Deputies interviewed the victim, Ryan said in the statement. “Upon responding to the victim’s property, the bloody subject was observed standing near a vehicle adjacent to the residence. The subject fled from deputies toward a wooded area. The deputies reported that they followed the subject who suddenly turned and rapidly advanced at the deputies while holding a large knife overhead. The subject’s actions forced the deputies to discharge their firearms to protect themselves.”

The “subject was struck by the gunfire and ceased his advance on the deputies.” Personnel from American Legion Ambulance, Amador Fire Protection District and Cal Fire, who had responded and were staged nearby, provided immediate medical assistance, but the man died at the scene, Ryan said.

Deputies, assisted by a California Highway Patrol officer, “conducted a check of the decedent’s residence for other possible victims. A bloody knife and a moderate amount of blood within the residence were observed. It was also determined that while in the pasture, the subject stabbed and severely injured one of the caller’s horses.”

The sheriff requested the California Department of Justice conduct the criminal investigation into the shooting. The forensic examination of the deceased man will be conducted by the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office. The horse was treated at the scene by a veterinarian and was in stable condition.

The release said: “Consistent with standard protocols, the involved deputies have been placed on administrative leave pending an administrative investigation and incident review.”

The subject’s identity is not being released until next of kin is notified. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.