PORTERVILLE, Calif. – A man suspected of fatally shooting three people and wounding three children, including his two daughters, died Sunday from his injuries in a police shootout, authorities said.
Hector Celaya, 31, died several hours after he was wounded during gunfire with Tulare County sheriff’s deputies as he tried to flee in a vehicle. His death was confirmed by sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Douglass, who did not release details.
Authorities apprehended him early Sunday, about six hours after deputies were called to a trailer on the Tule Indian Reservation on Saturday night. Inside, they found the bodies of a man and a woman; the body of another man was nearby.
Deputies also discovered a wounded young boy, whose condition and age were not known.
Officials said Celaya shot his two daughters, ages 5 and 8, who were found with him in the vehicle when he was apprehended. One girl suffered life-threatening injuries, while the other girl was less seriously hurt.
A motive for the attacks was not immediately known.
The boy who was wounded is believed to be about 7, said Shelby Charley Jr., an engineer and supervisor with the Tule River Reservation Fire Department.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of deal,” Charley said of the call. “It’s one of those calls you could go your whole career and not walk into. This is one of those calls that will stick with you for the rest of your life.”
The winding roads out of the reservation delayed medical help for the boy, Charley said. Thick fog in the area prevented a medical helicopter from responding, Charley said.
Deputies found Celaya by tracking his cellphone, and pulled him over in a rural area about 20 miles from the reservation.
Celaya opened fire, prompting deputies to return fire, Douglass said.
She did not say how many shots were fired, but said Celaya fired his gun “multiple times.” Celaya was shot during the exchange of gunfire, Douglass said.
Police said Celaya was “known to law enforcement” and “known to use drugs,” though Douglass could not provide details.
