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Sheriff’s office identifies armed man shot and killed by deputy in Monday confrontation
Jason Richard Sienze, 35, of Madera, was the man who died in the incident, according to Lt. Corey Paulich.
Paulich said Sienze was shot and killed by Deputy Ben Moore after Sienze brandished a handgun at the deputy.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit has been conducting a followup investigation into the events leading up to the officer-involved shooting, Paulich said.
He said Sienze is believed to have committed several felony crimes in the hour leading up to the shooting.
Sienze had ties to Lake County and had been here for the past two months. Detectives determined Sienze also had a history of thefts and felony assault, Paulich said.
At approximately 11:40 a.m. Monday a male fitting Sienze’s description was observed by witnesses in the area of Marin Street in Nice acting strangely and talking to himself. A 2003 Chrysler Sebring that has been linked to Sienze was located wrecked and abandoned in the area of Buckingham Way, Paulich said.
Paulich said that at approximately 11:42 a.m. a male fitting Sienze’s description was seen in the 3000 block of Highway 20 knocking on doors and asking for money. It was reported that he was acting strangely and talking about going back to prison.
Sienze is believed to be the suspect of a burglary that occurred in the 3000 block of Highway 20. Four firearms that included one handgun and a 1987 black Chevy pickup were stolen, Paulich said.
Then, at approximately 11:54 a.m. a male fitting Sienze’s description – who was driving the black Chevy pickup that had been stolen from the residence on Highway 20 – was contacted by a concerned citizen who lived on Nice Road, Paulich said.
Paulich said the male driving the pickup pointed a handgun at the concerned citizen and pulled the trigger, but the gun misfired. That pickup was later located off the road at the end of Nice Road.
Sienze then went to another residence on Nice Road where he forced entry into the residence. There was a female with a young child inside the residence. Paulich said the female retreated to the bathroom with her young child and locked the door.
Sienze took keys from the residence and used the keys to steal a 2006 Ford F-350 pickup. Paulich said Sienze drove the stolen truck down a hillside to Lakeview Drive.
Paulich said Sienze was contacted by law enforcement personnel in the area of Lakeview Drive and Burpee Drive.
Sienze brandished a handgun at Deputy Moore who then fired several rounds from his rifle at Sienze, killing him, Paulich said.
Paulich said Moore has been employed with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office for 12 years as a correctional officer and deputy sheriff.
The investigation is continuing and anyone with information regarding Sienze and his activities in Lake County are asked to contact Det. Jerry Pfann at 707-262-4236 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..