Authorities said the Mentone man barricaded himself inside a home before firing at deputies after hours of attempted negotiations.
MENTONE, CA — San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies fatally shot a man Friday after authorities said he fired at Southern California Edison workers near his home, barricaded himself inside and later opened fire on deputies during an hours-long standoff.
The confrontation began about 10:50 a.m. Aug. 14 in the 300 block of King Street in Mentone, an unincorporated community in San Bernardino County. Deputies were called after reports that a man had fired a weapon at utility workers operating along the road near his home, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. No Edison employees or contractors were injured.
The Southern California Edison crew was performing scheduled vegetation management work near power lines when the shooting occurred. Edison spokesperson Kathleen Dunleavy said the work included tree trimming and that the crew was able to move away from danger after the gunfire began. Authorities have not said what prompted the man to allegedly fire at the workers.
By the time deputies reached the property, the man had barricaded himself inside his home, authorities said. Members of the Sheriff’s Department Specialized Enforcement Division, a tactical unit, responded along with crisis negotiators. Officials said negotiators spent about three hours attempting to persuade the man to leave the home and surrender peacefully.
Shortly after 2 p.m., the Sheriff’s Department said the man fired at deputies. Deputies returned fire and struck him. Medical personnel attempted to provide aid, but the man died from his injuries at the scene, authorities said. His identity had not been released as of early Saturday.
No deputies were wounded, and authorities reported no injuries among other civilians. Roads in the area were closed for several hours as deputies handled the barricade and investigators examined the scene. Officials have not released the number of shots fired, the type of firearm involved or the number of deputies who fired their weapons.
The sequence described by authorities remains part of an ongoing investigation. The Sheriff’s Department has not announced a motive for the initial shooting or said whether the man knew the Edison workers before the confrontation. Investigators also had not released additional information about what happened immediately before the first reported gunfire.
Dunleavy said Edison was grateful that its workers and contractors were unharmed and thanked local law enforcement for its response. The company’s vegetation management crews routinely work around electrical infrastructure, but officials have not disclosed additional circumstances surrounding Friday’s planned work at the Mentone location.
The Sheriff’s Department Specialized Investigations Division is investigating the shooting. Authorities said the circumstances surrounding the man’s actions and the deputy-involved shooting remain under review, and additional details could be released as investigators gather evidence and interview witnesses.
Author note: Last updated August 15, 2026.