The San Bernardino County investigator underwent surgery after being shot during an investigation in a remote area near Palmdale.
LITTLEROCK, CA — A San Bernardino County sheriff’s detective was wounded and a suspect was killed Wednesday during an exchange of gunfire in a remote desert community near Palmdale, authorities said.
The shooting happened shortly after 3 p.m. in the 13000 block of East Avenue R2 near 130th Street East. San Bernardino County detectives were conducting a criminal investigation when gunfire erupted, according to officials from the San Bernardino and Los Angeles county sheriff’s departments. Authorities had not publicly explained what prompted the investigation as of Thursday.
The detective, a department veteran in his 30s, was shot below the rib cage and suffered internal injuries, San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said. A Los Angeles County sheriff’s helicopter carried him to Antelope Valley Medical Center in Lancaster, where he underwent surgery. Officials said he was in stable condition and expected to recover.
Dicus said the detective has served with the department since 2014. He credited the helicopter crew with providing medical care during the flight and quickly delivering the wounded investigator to the hospital.
The suspect was struck during the exchange and died at the scene, authorities said. The person’s name had not been released pending identification and notification of relatives. Officials also had not disclosed what type of weapon was used or which officers fired during the confrontation.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said investigators were still working to determine how the shooting unfolded. He said the available information indicated the suspect had been armed and willing to exchange gunfire with law enforcement officers.
Initial reports indicated detectives may have been serving a search warrant when the shooting began. Luna and Dicus did not confirm that detail during a joint news conference Wednesday night, saying the circumstances remained under investigation.
Video from the area showed a white sport utility vehicle with shattered windows and apparent bullet damage. A second vehicle used by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department also appeared damaged. A ballistic vest was visible on the ground as deputies secured the rural scene. Officials did not say who owned the white vehicle or whether the items seen inside it were connected to the shooting.
Dozens of deputies responded to the area, which includes open desert, scattered buildings and unpaved stretches of land. Several people were detained during the investigation, but Dicus said authorities did not believe any additional suspects were at large. Officials said there was no continuing threat to the public.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau is leading the investigation because the shooting happened within Los Angeles County. Representatives from the county medical examiner’s office and district attorney’s office were also expected to review the scene. Authorities had not announced when additional details or the suspect’s identity would be released.
Author note: Last updated Aug. 6, 2026.