Deputy Randal Eugene Jennings, 38, of the Butte County Sheriff’s Department, was killed on May 21, 1997, in Oroville, California while responding to a domestic violence call. The call reported a man, Pao Xiong, beating his wife. In a dark field, Jennings and Xiong exchanged gunfire; Jennings was struck five times — two bullets to the neck, one to the wrist, and two stopped by his bullet-resistant vest. Jennings returned fire and fatally wounded Xiong with a single shot. He radioed for an ambulance but died about two hours later at Enloe Hospital in Chico.

Investigators concluded Xiong fired first and that Jennings acted in self-defense and in the line of duty. No other suspects or arrests were involved. Hundreds of peace officers from multiple jurisdictions attended Jennings’ funeral. Does anyone have recollections of the response that night or of Deputy Jennings’ service in the department?