The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office identified the deputy killed in the line of duty Thursday as 35-year-old Randy Hoppert, a six-year-veteran of the department.

The department named the slain deputy shortly after law enforcement killed the suspected shooter, David Morales, in Porterville.

In a statement on social media, the sheriff’s office said it was saddened by the events. Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said in a statement to media that Hoppert was a father and husband whose wife is four months’ pregnant. Hoppert was also a Navy veteran.

“Sheriff Boudreaux, and all of us at the Tulare Count Sheriff’s Office, are shocked and deeply saddened by today’s tragic events,” a Facebook post read. “We ask that you keep our deputy’s grieving family in your prayers.”

‘You Shoot at Cops, We’re Going to Run You Over’: Boudreaux

At about 6 p.m., deputies in the Kern County Sheriff’s Office SWAT vehicle ran over Morales, the man suspected of shooting and killing Hoppert on Thursday morning.

Morales fled after barricading himself for hours. Law enforcement negotiators tried to coax him out and surrender, Boudreaux had said Thursday afternoon.

Hoppert, along with many law enforcement officers, were responding to a shots-fired call from deputies trying to serve Morales with an eviction notice.

After being shot, Hoppert was taken to Sierra View Hospital where he died shortly before noon. As an honor escort took Hoppert’s body to the coroner’s office, the standoff between Morales and law enforcement continued.

Boudreaux told media that law enforcement intentionally ran Morales over after he fled the home.

“Don’t shoot at cops. You shoot at cops, we’re going to run you over,” Boudreaux said.

The sheriff said Thursday after Hoppert had been killed that Morales used “a high-powered rifle.”

The hail of gunfire created a chaotic scene in Porterville, worrying residents and particularly parents with children in school.

Law enforcement from agencies throughout the Valley flooded the neighborhood, and schools were put on lockdown.

Hoppert Saved 2-Year-Old Girl in 2021

Gov. Gavin Newsom honored the slain deputy Thursday, saying his “legacy will endure.”

“Deputy Hoppert gave his life in service to his community,” Newsom said in a statement. “Jennifer and I join his family, friends, and colleagues in mourning his profound loss. His selflessness, bravery, and commitment to protecting others stand as a lasting example of honor and duty. Deputy Hoppert’s legacy will endure, and his sacrifice will always be remembered.”

Newsom’s office said Hoppert received a commendation in 2021 for using his Navy training to help save a 2-year-old girl’s life.

Flags at the State Capitol and at the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office will be flown at half-staff.