'Tarzan' actor Ron Ely's son unarmed when deputies fatally shot him in Santa Barbara, authorities say

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Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Woman killed at Santa Barbara home belonging to 'Tarzan' actor Ron Ely
A woman was killed and the suspect is dead at the Santa Barbara home belonging to actor Ron Ely, best known for playing Tarzan in a 1960s TV show, authorities say.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KABC) -- The son of "Tarzan" actor Ron Ely was not armed when sheriff's deputies fatally shot him earlier this month, authorities said.

The Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department says four deputies fired 24 rounds at Cameron Ely, who was being sought on suspicion of fatally stabbing his mother on Oct. 15.

Cameron Ely, 30, is suspect of stabbing and killing his mother, 62-year-old Valerie Lundeen Ely.

Authorities said they quickly found him outside the home, and Ely told them he had a gun and that he moved his hands as if he were grabbing a weapon. Deputies then fired.

No weapon was found.

Ron Ely, 81, played the title character on the NBC series "Tarzan," which ran from 1966 to 1968. Ely also hosted the Miss America pageant in 1980 and 1981. He had retired from acting in 2001, although he did have a role in a television movie in 2014.

The home on Mariposa Drive is in the exclusive Hope Ranch community on the Santa Barbara coast.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.