David Eric Morales was a man who kept to himself, neighbors told GV Wire one day after he allegedly shot and killed a Tulare County Sheriff’s Office deputy. Law enforcement later killed Morales, running him over with a BearCat tactical vehicle, Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said.

Morales, 59, lived at 1713 W. Brian Ave., a cul-de-sac in the northern part of Porterville. A check of Tulare County court records showed a traffic ticket in 2017.

John Alvarado, who lives a few houses down, said both his family and Morales have lived in the neighborhood since it was developed 20 years ago. He was in his home office Thursday morning.

“I heard a pop and I thought it was like a propane tank that exploded or something,” Alvarado said. He called police and could see the events unfold from his window as officers told residents to stay inside.

Eyewitness Accout: ‘I Was Devastated’

Alvarado described the sound of the gunshot as louder and heavier than he is used to. He saw the slain deputy, Randy Hoppert, on the street.

“I’m devastated. I feel numb. I feel sick to my stomach. Maybe because of all that, but honestly, I was scared,” Alvarado said.

Later in the afternoon, as the standoff continued, law enforcement evacuated Alvarado. He and his wife stayed overnight with family in the area.

“All of us are pretty traumatized. Even those who weren’t home were,” Alvarado said.

Ariel Orozco, a college student who lives on the block, just returned home from errands.

“It was just very chaotic. It started off as a really peaceful morning and it just got really crazy right away,” Orozco said. Her family sheltered at home before being evacuated.

Julita Agda lives three homes down. She was returning from an eye appointment Thursday morning.

“It’s like war. You could imagine all the shooting, everything. Big things,” she said. “Yes, I was scared. I’m alone. I am 82 years old.”

She was evacuated to a local church and later spent the night with her son in Visalia. Families were allowed to return home Friday morning.

About Morales Finances

Tulare County Superior Court records show an unlawful detainer lawsuit — eviction — filed against Morales and Eliza Rylant by SBE, LP on Jan. 22, 2026. A default judgment was granted March 16. An attorney listed for SBE, LP did not return a message from GV Wire.

Morales filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2012, federal court records show. At the time, he listed $97,214 in assets and $215,266 in liabilities. His petition listed ownership of four firearms: three rifles and a handgun. He reported he was unemployed.

Real estate documents show Morales and Rylant purchased the home in 2005. The most recent mortgage lender, Country Club Mortgage, foreclosed on the home in July 2025 after Morales defaulted on $11,868 owed. SBE, LP bought the home at an auction in October 2025 for $267,330.

Morales: ‘A Loner’

Alvarado said that despite living in the same neighborhood for 20 years, he barely knew Morales. He was surprised that Morales faced eviction.

“Ever since we’ve been here, he’s just been kind of like a loner. He’s always been to himself. He doesn’t say hello, doesn’t say goodbye, doesn’t really say anything,” Alvarado said. “He wouldn’t look you in the eye. If you said hi, he would just wave.”

Orozco offered a similar discription.

“He was an introvert. He didn’t really talk to anybody. The one time we had was a year ago and all he did was say hello and that was the only conversation we ever had,” Orozco said. “He was a little creepy and a little weird. We kept to ourselves and let him mind his own business.”

Morales Fed the Neighborhood Cats

Morales also had a reputation with animals.

“We called him the Cat Man because all the cats in the neighborhood were there because of him. He would feed the cats, give them water, and so we just kind of thought he was weird that way,” Alvarado said.

Alvarado said Morales had problems with other neighbors, to the point that they didn’t want him interacting with their children. Morales also allegedly got into a fight with a neighbor’s father.

It’s unclear what Morales’ financial circumstances were. Alvarado suspects Morales may have run into tough luck as of late. He used to observe Morales leave in the morning and return in the evening, as if he were going to work. He had not done so lately.

Although Morales often dressed in camouflage, Alvarado did not know he had guns.

“We’re gun rights activists. We want people to protect themselves. But we didn’t know he had all that stuff,” Alvarado said.

Given Morales’ demeanor, Alvarado said he was not surprised by what happened.

Sheriff Warns of Scam

Boudreaux’s office warned of a scam preying on sympathies for the fallen deputy.

“Sheriff Boudreaux wants the public to be aware of fake GoFundMe pages claiming to be created on behalf of fallen TCSO Deputy Randy Hoppert’s family. Please know Deputy Hoppert’s family has not authorized any GoFundMe pages and is not benefiting at all from those donations,” the office said.

The Deputy Sheriff’s Association has created a donation page that can be found at this link.

“This is the only verified donation page benefiting Deputy Hoppert’s family at this time. Please don’t fall victim to scammers taking advantage of this tragedy,” the sheriff’s office said.