The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office has identified the man involved in a deputy-involved shooting last month as Michael Piñon, authorities said.

Deputies were called around 10:30 a.m. May 20 to a home in the 400 block of Matheny Road in Tulare for a reported welfare check, according to the sheriff’s office.

During the welfare check, deputies attempted to make verbal contact with Piñon through an open back door of the residence. Authorities said Piñon refused repeated requests to come outside and instead told deputies to come down a hallway, indicating he was in the living room.

According to investigators, Piñon later emerged from the hallway and rushed out the back door holding a black object raised in his hand.

Deputies believed the object was a weapon and fired three shots, killing him. Two deputies discharged their weapons during the incident.

The object was later determined to be a cellphone. Authorities said Piñon was holding the phone with his finger parallel to the device at the time he ran toward deputies.

The sheriff’s office said its investigation found that Piñon did not have permission to be on the property, had no relationship to the homeowners, and appeared to have forcibly entered the residence. Investigators reported finding noticeable damage to the door that indicated it had been forced open.

A small amount of illegal narcotics was found inside the home, authorities said. Initial presumptive toxicology tests indicated Piñon was under the influence of methamphetamine and cocaine.

The sheriff’s office said Piñon had been arrested nine times in the past three years, including for being under the influence of a controlled substance, and had two prior arrests for obstructing an officer.

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