Sandy MaloneSacramento, CA – Sacramento County Sheriff’s Deputy Adam Gibson was fatally shot by a barricaded suspect inside the Cal Expo Complex on Monday night.
The incident began at about 10:07 p.m. on Jan. 18 when sheriff’s deputies spotted a car that matched the description of the suspect vehicle in a series of burglaries in a parking lot near Arden Way and Avondale Avenue, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) said in a press release posted to their official Facebook page.
SCSO said the deputies approached the suspect vehicle and confirmed the driver was on active parole.
When deputies attempted to search the vehicle, the suspect became uncooperative and then fled, according to the press release.
The sheriff’s department said deputies pursued the suspect into the Cal Expo Complex in the 1600-block of Exposition Boulevard and there the suspect crashed into a curb and disabled his own vehicle.
Deputies gave multiple commands for the suspect to exit the vehicle but he refused, according to the press release.
Then they shot less-lethal beanbag rounds into the suspect’s back car windows to try and break them and see inside the vehicle, according to SCSO.
After that, the sheriff’s department said a Sacramento County sheriff’s K9 handler deployed K9 Riley into the back window of the vehicle to apprehend the suspect.
The suspect opened fire on the dog inside the vehicle, according to the press release.
Then he started shooting at the sheriff’s deputies assembled outside.
Deputy Gibson, 31, and another deputy were hit by gunfire, SCSO said in the press release.
K9 Riley died at the scene.
The sheriff’s department said deputies did not wait for an ambulance and instead put the wounded heroes in the back of patrol vehicles and quickly transported them to a nearby hospital.
Deputy Gibson, a six-year veteran of SCSO, was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital, according to the press release.
SCSO said the other wounded deputy, a 13-year veteran of the sheriff’s department, was stabilized and transferred to a trauma center.
The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the press release.
#Breaking Sacramento Sheriff Scott Jones announced 6-year Sheriff Deputy killed in the line of duty in shooting with suspect at Cal Expo. Second deputy also shot is in stable condition. Suspect was killed in shooting. A Sheriff K-9 also shot and killed. pic.twitter.com/DxF1JrOTfm
— stevelarge (@largesteven) January 19, 2021
SCSO said that Deputy Gibson was a U.S. Marine who served two tours in Afghanistan before he joined the sheriff’s department in 2014.
He worked in corrections, patrol, and most recently became a K9 handler, the press release said.
Deputy Gibson is survived by his wife, Rachel Gibson, and their nine-month-old child.
He received a Bronze Star for bravery and a major incident ribbon in 2018 after he rescued a man who had tried to jump off a bridge, KCRA reported.
Our hearts are broken after hearing the news of the loss of one of our heroes. @sacsheriff Deputy Adam Gibson and his K9 partner Riley were shot and killed while serving their community. Deputy Gibson leaves behind a wife and young daughter. We'll take it from here. #hero pic.twitter.com/3uQ9t2J2Wl
— Chief Timothy Albright (@chief_albright) January 19, 2021
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Gibson family, K9 Riley's family, and the entire @sacsheriff as they mourn the loss of Deputy Adam Gibson and K9 Riley. Rest easy heroes.#NeverForget pic.twitter.com/2tS7cY6QsI
— K9s of Valor (@k9sofvalor) January 19, 2021
Our hearts are with Deputy Adam Gibson’s family, K-9 Riley, and @sacsheriff 💙🖤 pic.twitter.com/ibEJdkfM5b
— Mix 96 SAC (@Mix96Sac) January 19, 2021
#NeverForget @sacsheriff Deputy Adam Gibson and K9 Riley pic.twitter.com/1ZFSwF2iBD
— Christina M. Roof (@Christina_Roof) January 19, 2021
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Sacramento County Sheriff’s Deputy Adam Gibson, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Deputy Adam Gibson, your life mattered.
Holly Matkin
