Man was wielding a pickax and threatening deputies
Aromas – Monterey County Sheriff’s deputies shot and killed an Aromas man wielding a large pickax and threatening to kill several law enforcement officers in front of the Old Firehouse Market in Aromas.
Gene Velasquez, 44, was shot Monday afternoon after ignoring orders from deputies to put down the ax, which he had been swinging violently at them, according to a statement issued late Monday night by the Monterey County Sheriff’s office.
It was unclear how many times Velasquez was shot. He was then given CPR while deputies waited for emergency medical personnel to arrive, but was later pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting, according to the statement.
The three deputies involved in the shooting, Jesus Reyes, Gustavo Hernandez and Sabrina Hawkins, were placed on administrative leave from the Monterey County Sheriff’s office pending further investigation into the shooting, according to law enforcement statements.
Deputies arrived in Aromas about 3pm after receiving a call that two San Benito County Child Protective Services employees had been assaulted at Velasquez’s home in the 100 block of Carr Avenue in Aromas. The two CPS employees told deputies they had gone to the home to investigate a child abuse case. Deputies said the two CPS employees, who have not been identified, were talking to an individual at the home when Velasquez allegedly attacked them, swinging the pickax and threatening to kill them. Velasquez allegedly chased the two CPS employees to their vehicle and smashed the front passenger window with the pickax, according to the statement.
While interviewing the two CPS employees, deputies were informed that the assault suspect, who later turned out to be Velasquez, was spotted at the Old Firehouse Market. There, Velasquez approached deputies in a “very threatening manner” while “yelling that he was going to kill them all” and “swinging the pickax violently” at the deputies, the statement read. Velasquez ignored repeated orders to put down the ax and continued toward the deputies. One of the deputies then tasered Velasquez, but “this had no effect on him,” according to the report. Velasquez shook off the taser and continued to approach the three deputies. At that point, two deputies fired their .40-caliber Glock pistols, the statement said. Velasquez immediately fell to the ground.
Velasquez has a long criminal history dating back to 1992, said San Benito County Jail Sgt. Dan Lewis. Since 1992, Velasquez has been booked into the jail 14 times. He was been arrested for crimes such as assault with a deadly weapon, battery and domestic violence. His last arrest was in 2004 for battery, Lewis said.
