End of Watch: Officer Damon Gutzwiller Shot Down in Cold Blood by U.S. Airman
U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Steven Carrillo was arrested for the murder of Sergeant Gutzwiller and other felonies. according to the Sheriff’s office which described the scene of the crime:
“On Saturday June 6th at around 1:30 p.m., we received a call about a suspicious van parked off the road near Jamison Creek, Boulder Creek. The caller saw guns and bomb making materials inside the van. When deputies arrived, the van was seen leaving the area and tried to follow it, finally finding it at a home on Waldeberg, Ben Lomond. As deputies began investigating, they were ambushed with gunfire and multiple improvised explosive devices. Sergeant Damon Gutzwiller was shot and taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Another deputy was either shot or struck by shrapnel and struck by a car as the suspect fled the property. We are hopeful the deputy will recover.
“Calls of a carjacking nearby soon followed as officers from departments throughout Santa Cruz County began arriving to the area, several of whom were involved in the arrest of the suspect, Steven Carrillo, who was reportedly armed was shot during his arrest. The suspect survived and was treated and released from the hospital.
“Deputy Spencer was our second deputy injured in the line of duty just over one week ago. the Santa Cruz Sheriff’s office reported.
He was shot, hit with shrapnel from an explosive device and hit by the suspect’s car.
Despite the significant injuries, he has been released from the hospital and is now at home recovering.
Deputy Spencer says he is awestruck by the outpouring of support he has received from the community. As is our entire agency.
We will all be waiting for the day we hear King 27 is in service again.
You are our hero.
Our hearts are heavy. You will never be forgotten Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller. Sant Cruz SO.
On 11 June, the Sheriff’s office continued to search for witnesses:
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is looking for the public’s assistance in finding the potential victim of an attempted carjacking that took place on June 6, 2020 at the 10000 Block of Highway 9 in Ben Lomond.
We believe the individual in this photo witnessed this crime and is not linked to any of the crimes that occurred that day. The District Attorney’s Office would like to contact them to ensure their wellbeing and speak with them as a potential victim and witness to a crime.
Thousands of community members, first responders and individuals from around the Nation who attended Sgt. Gutzwiller’s vigil
Sergeant Damon Gutzwiller served the community of Santa Cruz County since 2006 when he was hired by the Santa Cruz Sheriffs Office. During that time he served as a patrol deputy and detective. When he was promoted to Sergeant he performed as the leader that this community needed and deserved.
Sergeant Damon Gutzwiller was lost to his family and community on June 6, 2020, when he and other deputies investigating a suspicious vehicle were ambushed by a suspect who used both multiple improvised explosive devises and an assault rifle on them.
Sergeant Gutzwiller was shot and taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Damon was a beautiful person who cared most about his family.
He leaves behind a wife who is 3 weeks away from delivering their second child, and the love of his life Carter, their 2 year old son.
The suspect in custody