Investigators identify man, deputies involved in fatal exchange of gunfire in Santee

Investigators have identified a 55-year-old man who died after exchanging gunfire with sheriff’s deputies during an hours-long SWAT standoff at a home in Santee on Sunday.

SWAT deputies identified as Luke Vories, Kevin McCauley and Parker Robbins shot Michael Redding, of Santee, after Redding allegedly walked out of a home and fired multiple rounds at an armored vehicle, San Diego police Lt. Arturo Swadener said.

The deputies have been employed by the department for seven to 13 years, Swadener said. They were all wearing body-worn cameras at the time of the shooting.

The San Diego Police Department is handling the investigation under a countywide protocol designed to prevent departments from investigating shootings by their own officers or deputies.

The shooting occurred six hours after deputies received an initial report that a man, later identified as Redding, had allegedly threatened his sister and her husband at a home they all shared on Willowgrove Avenue near Mission Gorge Road, Swadener said.

Following the family argument, the woman and her husband left the scene for their own safety. Redding, armed with a handgun, ran to a house across the street.

Deputies arrived, got Redding’s phone number and tried to call him in order to peacefully resolve the situation, but he refused to speak with them and barricaded himself inside the neighbor’s home, Swadener said.

SWAT and a crisis negotiation team were called to the scene, Swadener said. Over the next few hours, deputies and the crisis team tried to get Redding to exit the home, but he refused.

At one point, a gunshot was heard inside the house and, fearing that Redding had turned a gun on himself, deputies breached the home’s front door, investigators said. They sent in a drone in an attempt to find Redding and see if he needed medical help.

The drone found Redding further barricading himself the house, Swadener said. Deputies then decided to try to use chemical agents to flush him out.

Around 6:10 p.m., Redding came out the front door and fired at deputies, with rounds striking the armored vehicle parked in front of the home. The deputies returned fire, fatally striking him.

Redding died before he could be taken to a hospital.

When the Police Department completes its investigation, it will be reviewed by the county district attorney’s office to determine if the deputies bear any criminal liability.

The sheriff’s office will conduct an administrative investigation into the deputies discharging their firearms. The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will also monitor the investigations.