Gunman Killed After Firing Shots In Mojave Desert Medical Building; No Other Injuries

Monday, July 30th 2007, 4:20 pm

By: News On 6

RIDGECREST, Calif. (AP) _ A 75-year-old man walked into a medical building Monday and started shooting but was killed by a highway patrolman, authorities in this Mojave Desert community said. No other injuries were reported.

The man fired one shot on the grounds of Ridgecrest Regional Hospital and entered a medical office building, where he fired several other shots, Police Chief Mike Avery said.

Officers told the man to drop his shotgun, but he did not, authorities said.

The man was shot and killed by California Highway Patrol Officer Brad Degeus, a six-year member of the force, said Paul Salazar of the patrol.

The patrol said Degeus had been backing up another law enforcement agency.