Deputy's death could have been avoided, El Dorado County sheriff says

The crime scene is still active in Somerset -- the site of an illegal marijuana grow operation where El Dorado County Deputy Brian Ishmael was ambushed by gunfire. “Deputy Ishmael and his partner both returned fire,” said El Dorado County Sheriff John D’Agostini. “Deputy Ishmael was struck two times. Once in the upper chest above his bullet proof vest and the other in his foot. His ride-along was also struck in the upper thigh."Ishmael died within minutes. Juan Carlos Vasquez-Orozco, 20, has been charged with his murder and Romiro Bravo Morales, 22, was arrested for aiding in the commission of a felony. Both men are Mexican nationals. D’Agostini said he didn’t know the immigration status of the two men because under California law, he’s not allowed to communicate with ICE. Also charged in the shooting is 47-year-old Christopher Ross, who initiated the call for help. Audio from the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office identifies a dispatcher saying, “I have a Christopher Ross on the line. Advising he sees subjects in his marijuana grow taking plants.”Ross never told law enforcement he had a business arrangement with the other two men, leasing out his property to grow marijuana. “What he failed to report is that he had a business arrangement with the persons growing marijuana on his property,” D’Agostini said. “Had he been truthful with our deputies and the 911 dispatcher, this tragic event would not have occurred.”Ross has now been charged with manslaughter.

The crime scene is still active in Somerset -- the site of an illegal marijuana grow operation where El Dorado County Deputy Brian Ishmael was ambushed by gunfire.


“Deputy Ishmael and his partner both returned fire,” said El Dorado County Sheriff John D’Agostini. “Deputy Ishmael was struck two times. Once in the upper chest above his bullet proof vest and the other in his foot. His ride-along was also struck in the upper thigh."

Ishmael died within minutes.

Juan Carlos Vasquez-Orozco, 20, has been charged with his murder and Romiro Bravo Morales, 22, was arrested for aiding in the commission of a felony. Both men are Mexican nationals.

D’Agostini said he didn’t know the immigration status of the two men because under California law, he’s not allowed to communicate with ICE.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Offce L to R: Romiro Bravo Morales, Christopher Garry Ross, Juan Carlos Vasquez-Orozco

Also charged in the shooting is 47-year-old Christopher Ross, who initiated the call for help.

Audio from the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office identifies a dispatcher saying, “I have a Christopher Ross on the line. Advising he sees subjects in his marijuana grow taking plants.”

Ross never told law enforcement he had a business arrangement with the other two men, leasing out his property to grow marijuana.

“What he failed to report is that he had a business arrangement with the persons growing marijuana on his property,” D’Agostini said. “Had he been truthful with our deputies and the 911 dispatcher, this tragic event would not have occurred.”

Ross has now been charged with manslaughter.