Deputy Brian David Ishmael, 37, of the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office was killed on October 23, 2019, in Somerset, California while responding to a call about theft from a private marijuana garden. The call came from property owner Christopher Ross, who reported several men were stealing plants. Deputies were not told that Ross had an arrangement allowing others to grow marijuana on the land in exchange for money and a used Jeep.

On arrival, Deputy Ishmael and an off-duty San Joaquin County deputy riding with him were ambushed. Juan Carlos Vasquez-Orozco opened fire, fatally wounding Ishmael; the off-duty deputy was wounded and survived. Vasquez-Orozco was shot twice in the hip during the exchange. Vasquez-Orozco and another worker, Ramiro Morales, were arrested at the scene; Ross was later taken into custody when his partnership with the shooters came to light.

Vasquez-Orozco was convicted of second-degree murder and assault with a firearm and sentenced to 15 years to life; Morales was convicted as an accessory after the fact; Ross was convicted of felony voluntary manslaughter and possession of marijuana for sale. Deputy Ishmael is survived by his wife and three children. Does anyone have information about the grow operation or the property owner’s role that could shed more light on how the ambush unfolded?