Police detained Barron’s father, wife and several friends for questioning while other family members took the children from the residence. All those detained and questioned were released after being interviewed. Chief Gonzales said at this time charges against them are not pending.Barron has an extensive criminal record.The Santa Paula Police and Ventura County Sheriff’s departments as well as the District Attorney’s Office are conducting the investigation into the shooting.Several SPPD detectives on scene as investigators are now witnesses to the shooting, said Chief Gonzales, and the VCSD was called in to help in the investigation to avoid a conflict of interest.Law enforcement shootings in the city have been rare, Chief Gonzales noted; Wednesday’s incident was the first in Santa Paula involving a DEA agent.
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Rescue personnel wheel Edward Barron to a waiting ambulance. Barron was shot by a DEA Agent during a raid on a house in the 600 block of W. Santa Barbara Street. According to the Santa Paula Police Department Barron pulled a handgun on the officers that led to the officer involved shooting. Photo by Don Johnson |
DEA Agent shoots man during arrest attempt
April 26, 2002
Santa Paula News
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula TimesA DEA agent shot a Santa Paulan with an extensive criminal record in the head Wednesday evening when the suspect pulled a gun on officers during an arrest attempt in the 600 block of West Santa Barbara Street.Edward Barron, 22, suffered gunshot wounds to his head at about 7 p.m., in the front yard of his home after a multi-faceted law enforcement team surrounded the residence to arrest him on various narcotics violations, according to Santa Paula Police Chief Bob Gonzales.Barron’s family, including his 3-year-old daughter and twin 8-month old boys, were inside the home at the time of the shooting.Santa Paula and Drug Enforcement Agency investigators dressed in tactical equipment and using the SPPD High Risk Entry Team members went to Barron’s residence to arrest him on suspicion of drug sales. Chief Gonzales said the investigation into the suspected drug sales had been ongoing for several months.As officers approached, Barron, who had been standing in the driveway when officers arrived on scene, “retreated to the front door area of his home,” said Chief Gonzales. Barron pulled a handgun from the waistband of his pants and pointed it at the officers; an unidentified DEA agent fired a handgun on the suspect at least two times.Barron was transported to Santa Paula Memorial Hospital and then transferred to the Head Trauma Unit of Ventura County Medical Center, where his condition is listed as critical.
