Kevin Lamont Patmon, a 66-year-old man and San Bernardino resident, died during an early-morning incident at a home on the 25000 block of Argyle Court on September 21, 2026. At approximately 5:06 a.m., San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department deputies from Central Station were sent to the residence after Patmon's mother reported a troubling situation involving her son and a firearm. According to investigators, she had seen Patmon inside his bedroom with a gun.
She heard a gunshot before leaving the residence and went to a neighbor, asking that 911 be called. Authorities said Patmon was the only person who remained inside the home.
When deputies arrived, they did not immediately enter the residence. Instead, they used a public-address system and repeatedly instructed Patmon to come outside without the weapon. Deputies also attempted several times to reach him by cellphone, but he did not answer. While officers remained outside, they heard another single gunshot come from inside the residence. With an armed individual believed to be inside and no response to attempts at communication, deputies requested assistance from the Sheriff's Specialized Enforcement Division. Nearby residents were evacuated as a precaution while law enforcement continued trying to communicate with Patmon.
Members of the Specialized Enforcement Division eventually entered the house and located Patmon motionless on a bed. Investigators reported that he had suffered what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. Medical personnel were brought inside and pronounced him dead at the scene. The Sheriff's Department account did not report that deputies fired their weapons or that another person was inside the residence when Patmon was found.
The Sheriff's Specialized Investigations Division, including Homicide Detail investigators, subsequently assumed responsibility for the case. The incident was formally listed by the department as a “Gross Negligent Discharge Firearm / In-Custody Death Investigation.” The investigation remained open following Patmon's death, but authorities had not announced a suspect, arrest, or criminal charge connected to the fatal shooting. The information released by investigators instead described the fatal wound as self-inflicted, with no indication that another person caused Patmon's death. Detectives continued seeking information from anyone who might have additional knowledge about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
