Santa Maria Sun / News

Sheriff investigates another officer-involved shooting

BY AMY ASMAN

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred the morning of June 28, resulting in the death of Jose Rangel Rincon, a 23-year-old Santa Maria resident.

According to a press release from the Sheriff’s Department, deputies were conducting a joint investigation with officers from the Santa Maria Police Department near the intersection of Bunny Avenue and Lincoln Street.

Law enforcement agents started following a vehicle that reportedly contained a passenger who was a known parolee-at-large.

“As the vehicle approached North Broadway it suddenly stopped and the parolee, who is a documented gang member, jumped out of the car and began running westbound,” the press release said. “Within moments, there were multiple gunshots fired. At least one bullet hit the parolee killing him at the scene. No one else was injured.”

The Sheriff’s Department is investigating the incident, including “how many shots were fired and by whom,” the release said.

The department is also investigating another, unrelated,  shooting death, this one of Santa Maria resident Matthew Berg, who was killed on July 2 after leading Sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed chase.

A department spokesperson could not be reached for comment as of press time.