Bounty hunters under investigation in Riverside fatal shooting
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- Two bounty hunters are under investigation Monday after a man was shot and killed in Riverside, police say.
The Riverside County Sheriff Dispatch Center informed Riverside police at 5 p.m. Sunday that two bounty hunters were involved in a shooting in the Santa Ana River bottom, east of Van Buren Boulevard.
Riverside police and sheriff's deputies responded and found the two with an injured man.
The man was taken to a nearby hospital with a gunshot wound to the head. He later died from his injuries, police said. His identity was not released.
According to a preliminary investigation, the bounty hunters entered the river bed and conducted surveillance on the wanted man. When they found him a physical fight ensued, which then led to a shooting, police said.
"I don't know if the subject had a weapon or if he got in an altercation with the bounty hunters over their weapon or not," said Officer Ryan Railsback of the Riverside Police Department.
The bounty hunters called the Riverside County dispatch center and requested law enforcement and medical assistance, according to authorities.
Police did not immediately say why the man was wanted and why the bounty hunters used deadly force. The two were questioned by authorities and later released. It was unclear whether they would be facing any charges.
Homicide investigators were taking over the investigation and are being assisted by the Riverside County District Attorney's Office and the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner.
Family members of the man who died said he was not armed at the time of the shooting. They identified him only as Adrien, a man in his 30s who leaves behind a girlfriend and their five children.
Anyone with information regarding the incident was urged to contact the Riverside Police Department.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said the two bounty hunters were bail bondsmen, according to Riverside police. Authorities later updated that information.
