By Associated Press
LA QUINTA, Calif. - A Riverside County sheriff’s deputy died of head wounds and his suspected attacker was shot to death Tuesday, authorities said.
Deputy Bruce Lee, 45, died shortly before noon of extensive injuries caused by a blow or blows to the head, Sgt. Shelley Kennedy-Smith said.
Lee, a 22-year veteran, went to the scene about 9:40 a.m. to investigate a domestic-disturbance call, the sergeant said.
“Several minutes later, our backup deputy arrived on scene and found our first deputy lying on the ground, motionless,” Kennedy-Smith said.
The deputy then was approached by a man holding what appeared to be a baton. When the man refused to stop advancing, the deputy shot him, Kennedy-Smith said.
Kevin Diabo, 24, of La Quinta was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Neighbors told KESQ-TV that the dead man was unstable and said he was trying to break into his mother’s house. Kennedy-Smith was unable to confirm the account and said there were no known independent witnesses to the attack on the deputy.
La Quinta is about 120 miles southeast of Los Angeles.