California Gunman Killed After Wounding Four Officers in Shootout

Mason James Lira has been shot dead in a gunfight with police.

The suspect wounded four officers in total before the two-day manhunt ended shortly after 4pm on Thursday.

During the final shootout, a CHP officer was shot in the chest, but luckily was wearing a protective vest.

A Kings County deputy was shot in the leg above the knee, the Paso Robles Press reported.

Another Arroyo Grande Police Department officer was earlier shot in the leg during the chase.

"I'm glad this is finally over," said Paso Robles Police Department Police Chief Ty Lewis said. "It's been really a tough go."

“Every time that law enforcement got near to him, he engaged them in gunfire."

SLO County Sheriff Ian Parkinson added: "This was not by any means a happy ending, this was not happy. If we could rewind this and he never engaged the police department, never engaged our officers, never shot my deputy that would make me happy if we could rewind to that moment."

"This was not a win. This is an end to something that we wished never happened and I really believe that this community doesn't want to happen. The only fortunate thing about it is the community is safe tonight from this event."

Original story below 10:44AM 6/11/2020:

Police are currently hunting for the armed and dangerous 26-year-old, who they say shot a sheriff's deputy in the face in an ambush before killing a homeless man.

Police in California are closing in on an armed and dangerous gunman after a fatal shooting spree.

26-year-old Mason James Lira opened fire outside Paso Robles Police Department station in the early hours of Wednesday morning, shooting a sheriff's deputy in the face, investigators said.

After he fled toward Paso Robles train station, police found a 58-year-old homeless man, shot dead with a single bullet wound to the back of the head.

As of Thursday morning, a widespread manhunt involving SWAT, Sheriff Deputies and local police combed Paso Robles, concentrated around the railway area, as reports of several shots being fired throughout the early morning were called in.

All trains through the area have been suspended, as police warned the public to stay away from the suspect, who is considered armed and dangerous.

Lira's Facebook page is filled with bizarre posts and videos; in one he claims he was brought to a park as a child to watch his father and another man bury his friend who they had murdered; he offered a $5,000 reward for help finding the grave, having just remembered the incident.

Lira also wrote a book about the incident, for sale on Amazon; but the preview just gives advice on how to speak to demons, should one appear beside you.

In another video, Lira warns against people who say the word "blackout" three times, as they are trying to render you unconscious; he claims to have mastered the art himself as a spell.

The Paso Robles Press are currently posting updates of the manhunt as investigators close in around Lira.

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