Police run over gunman with armoured vehicle following fatal shooting

A tragic confrontation in Tulare County, California, has resulted in the deaths of a veteran sheriff's deputy and an armed suspect.

At 10:20am on Thursday, deputies arrived at a residence in Porterville to serve an eviction notice on 59-year-old David Morales.

Sheriff Mike Boudreaux stated that Mr Morales, who was reportedly waiting for officials after failing to pay rent, immediately opened fire.

Deputy Randy Hoppert, 35, was struck during the initial exchange. Despite efforts to stabilise him for a medevac to Fresno, the officer later died from his injuries at a local hospital.

Following the shooting, Mr Morales, dressed in camouflage and armed with an unregistered long rifle, fled through a window and hid in nearby brush.

A prolonged standoff ensued, involving crisis negotiators and multiple SWAT teams. The incident reached a violent conclusion around 6pm when a Kern County BearCat SWAT vehicle "intentionally" ran over Mr Morales as he continued to fire at armoured units.

"Don't shoot at cops. You shoot at cops, we're gonna run you over," Sheriff Boudreaux told reporters during a press conference, confirming the tactical decision to use the vehicle to neutralise the threat.

The motive remains unclear, as Mr Morales had no prior criminal history despite owning 18 registered handguns.

Deputy Hoppert, a six-year veteran of the sheriff's office and a former Navy corpsman who served from 2010 to 2015, is survived by his wife and mother.

The Tulare County Sheriff's Office expressed deep sadness over the loss of their colleague and requested prayers for his grieving family.