On June 6, 2020, Sergeant Damon Gutzwiller, a 38-year-old deputy with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office, was tragically killed in an ambush in Ben Lomond, California. Gutzwiller and other officers were responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle containing guns and bomb-making materials. Upon arriving at the scene, the officers followed the vehicle to a residence on Waldeberg Drive, where they were met with gunfire and improvised explosive devices. Gutzwiller was shot and later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. Another deputy and a California Highway Patrol officer were also injured during the incident.
The suspect, Steven Carrillo, an active-duty U.S. Air Force sergeant, was apprehended after a shootout with law enforcement. Carrillo, who was part of an anti-government extremist group known as the "Boogaloo" movement, was charged with first-degree murder and multiple other felonies. During his arrest, Carrillo attempted to carjack a vehicle and was armed, leading to further charges. He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries sustained during the shootout.
The investigation into Gutzwiller's death revealed that Carrillo had planned the ambush and was connected to the fatal shooting of a federal officer in Oakland during protests a week earlier. The FBI and local law enforcement agencies worked together to uncover the extent of Carrillo's activities and his involvement in the extremist movement. In August 2022, Carrillo was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of Sergeant Gutzwiller and the attempted murder of several other officers.
The case highlighted the dangers faced by law enforcement officers and the growing threat of domestic extremism. Gutzwiller, who had served with the sheriff's office since 2006, was remembered as a dedicated and courageous officer, leaving behind a wife, a young child, and another child on the way. His death prompted an outpouring of grief and support from the community, as well as renewed calls for addressing the rise of violent extremist groups.
