Southern California man accused of stealing deputy’s gun, firing it at her
A man from Victorville was arrested and is facing charges for allegedly stealing the service weapon from a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department deputy and then firing the stolen gun at her.
Ari Aki Young, 26, faces three felony charges, including robbery, possession of a stolen firearm and ammunition, and discharging a firearm during the crime, which happened nearly five years ago.
He was expected to appear in a United States District Court in Riverside Wednesday afternoon.
According to the United States Department of Justice, on Sept. 4, 2019, Young was involved in a domestic disturbance involving his mother when the unnamed deputy arrived on scene.
According to the federal criminal complaint filed earlier this week, Young’s mother called 911 and pleaded for help removing him from her home.
“The victim, a female sheriff’s deputy who weighed 135 pounds, responded to the call – alone,” the DOJ wrote in a news release issued Wednesday.
The deputy attempted to check Young for weapons, but he resisted and threatened to heabutt her, the DOJ says.
“Young then forcefully knocked away the deputy’s baton and began to pummel her in the head and face with his fists,” the news release states. “While being punched in the face and head, the victim unholstered her weapon and warned that she would shoot. Instead of stopping, Young knocked the victim to the ground and straddled the top of her and grappled with her, trying to take her gun from her.”
During that struggle, two shots were fired from the service weapon, which Young allegedly ripped from the deputy’s grip. After stealing the firearm, Young allegedly stood upright “racked the gun” and pointed it at the deputy as she stumbled back to her feet.
The deputy pleaded for her life and then tried to run away from him, charging documents state. Young then fired a shot in her direction.
He kept the gun in his hand, racked it again and walked toward more deputies who had arrived on scene and fired a shot into the air.
Deputies ultimately opened fire on him, wounding him. He was treated for his injuries and recovered.
The deputy suffered “severe bruising” during the encounter and ended up medically retiring from the force.
Because Young fired in the direction of the deputy, the DOJ says he “knowingly and willfully” robbed the victim of her service weapon and ammunition which belonged to the Sheriff’s Department, and did so by means of “actual and threatened” force.
Christopher Bombardiere, special agent in charge of the L.A. Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, called the attack on the deputy as she attempted to help Young’s own mother “vicious” and “inhumane.”
“Violent individuals will be held accountable for their merciless attacks,” Bombardiere said. “ATF is committed to building cases against the ruthless individuals who have no regard for other’s lives.”
If convicted as charged, Young could face between 10 and 40 years in prison.
The ATF is the lead investigating agency in the case.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
