Randy Hoppert has been identified as the Tulare County Sheriff's office deputy who was shot and killed by David Morales in Porterville, California. Sheriff Boudreaux organized a news conference after the deputy-involved shooting on Thursday morning.
The sheriff shared that deputies had been serving a search warrant in the Newcomb and Grand area of Porterville, when they came across Morales who opened fire. Deputies fired back and it was later reported that Morales had barricaded himself inside a house. The shooting broke out around 10:20am. Amid the exchange of fire, Hoppert was hurt by a bullet from what authorities believed to be Morales' ‘high-powered’ rifle. He was taken to a hospital and declared dead at 11:20am.
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“Sheriff Boudreaux is devastated to announce the loss of a Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Deputy, after he was shot and killed this morning in Porterville,” a statement from the Tulare County Sheriff's Office read. “Sheriff Boudreaux has met with the fallen Deputy’s family and offered his deepest condolences. All of us at the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office are shocked and incredibly saddened by today’s tragic events. We ask that you keep our Deputy’s grieving family in your prayers.” it added.
As locals, friends, and family mourn Randy Hoppert's demise, here is all you need to know about the slain deputy.
Randy Hoppert: 5 things to know
- Hoppert comes from a family in law enforcement, particularly the Tulare County Sheriff's Office (TCSO). His grandfather, Doyle Hoppert, was a retired undersheriff who had served with TCSO. Doyle was survived by daughter Rhonda Willis, a former deputy, and sons retired TCSO Deputy Randy Hoppert, Sr. and Brandon Hoppert.
- Randy served on the Tulare Area Gangs and Narcotics Enforcement Team, as per a TCSO announcement on his grandfather's passing. He was not serving an eviction notice when he was shot, but was rather responding to calls for help when tragedy befell, as per reports.
- Hoppert is survived by wife, Ashley, their two sons, Austin and Everett, as well as his mother and sister. The sheriff described him as a fun-loving guy who was very confident and “a very good cop.”
- Hoppert, in 2021, got a Letter of Commendation from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office after he used training from the US Navy to help save a 2-year-old girl’s life.
- Hoppert's in-laws, Dave and Trish Heddick, attend the Calvary Visalia church. On Facebook, the church put out a statement which read “Please pray for comfort for the entire family, especially Ashley and their sons. Let us encourage ourselves, knowing that He was a believer and is now safely at home in heaven with His Savior. Jesus promises us comfort during the tragedy and hope for the future.”
As locals, friends, and family mourn Randy Hoppert's demise, here is all you need to know about the slain deputy.
Randy Hoppert: 5 things to know
- Hoppert comes from a family in law enforcement, particularly the Tulare County Sheriff's Office (TCSO). His grandfather, Doyle Hoppert, was a retired undersheriff who had served with TCSO. Doyle was survived by daughter Rhonda Willis, a former deputy, and sons retired TCSO Deputy Randy Hoppert, Sr. and Brandon Hoppert.
- Randy served on the Tulare Area Gangs and Narcotics Enforcement Team, as per a TCSO announcement on his grandfather's passing. He was not serving an eviction notice when he was shot, but was rather responding to calls for help when tragedy befell, as per reports.
- Hoppert is survived by wife, Ashley, their two sons, Austin and Everett, as well as his mother and sister. The sheriff described him as a fun-loving guy who was very confident and “a very good cop.”
- Hoppert, in 2021, got a Letter of Commendation from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office after he used training from the US Navy to help save a 2-year-old girl’s life.
- Hoppert's in-laws, Dave and Trish Heddick, attend the Calvary Visalia church. On Facebook, the church put out a statement which read “Please pray for comfort for the entire family, especially Ashley and their sons. Let us encourage ourselves, knowing that He was a believer and is now safely at home in heaven with His Savior. Jesus promises us comfort during the tragedy and hope for the future.”
The suspect, Morales, was reportedly killed after deputy Hoppert got shot and succumbed to his injuries. As per a local report, Hoppert's death marks the first line-of-duty death for the Tulare County Sheriff's Office since December 7, 2007, nearly 20 years ago.