The father of a Ventura man who was fatally shot by police in Northern California in July is on a quest to piece together his son's final hours.

"This is not something that's just going to go away," said Scott Rushing of his efforts to uncover what led to his son's killing in downtown Chico on the night of July 23.

Scott Rushing and his wife, Paula, have distributed fliers and taken out numerous ads in the Chico Enterprise-Record, the town's newspaper, asking anyone who may have seen or spoken with their son during his brief visit to Chico to contact his family.

"I have more questions now than I did when I initially spoke with (Chico authorities) them," Rushing said Wednesday.

"I don't find their story believable," said Rushing, owner of a Santa Paula real-estate company.

Authorities said in the days following the late July shooting that Tyler Rushing, 34, was shot by a security guard in a patio outside a title and escrow company in downtown Chico around 10:45 p.m.

The guard then called Chico police. Officers said the guard was stabbed in the arm during a confrontation with Rushing.

More:Venturan's slaying by police puzzles dad, friends

Authorities said a wounded Rushing then ran inside the company's office where he hid inside a bathroom. When police arrived at the company they said they found a broken window to the office inside.

Officers said they spent 20 to 30 minutes trying to get Rushing to come out of the restroom. Police said they ultimately forced their way inside with a police dog where a tussle ensued. They said two officers were stabbed during the struggle and that one of the officers shot Rushing twice, killing him.

Two days later, Chico police identified the officer who fatally shot Rushing as Sgt. Scott Ruppel, a 19-year veteran of the department.

Authorities said at the time Rushing stabbed the sergeant in the neck, narrowly missing a major artery. The other officer, identified as Cedric Schwyzer, 38, was stabbed in the head when the object used in the alleged assault penetrated his uniform cap and injured his skull, police said.

In a statement, Chico Police Chief Michael O’Brien said the officers were placed on paid administrative leave.

Waiting for answers

Authorities have said little since then about the case or the investigation into the fatal shooting.

Scott Rushing said his son had told him he planned to stay with friends in Chico. While there, Tyler decided to work on a documentary about the plight of the homeless as part of his photography venture.

"I told him to be careful that some homeless people can get violent, a typical Dad warning," Rushing said. He said little did he realize at the time that his son would instead be killed by police in Chico.

"I am totally in torment over how he died," Rushing said this week.

He said investigators told him in late July that police used a stun gun on his son after he was shot. His son died at the scene, police said.

Rushing said he's asked investigators for copies of any video from police or the security guard that was taken that night as well as any recorded audio.

"We've haven't gotten any cooperation from them so far," he said, noting he's also been unsuccessful so far in getting information on what specific weapon his son used against the guard and police officers.

Megan McMann, a spokeswoman for the Butte County Sheriff's Office, declined to comment on the case, saying it is being led by "a protocol team that is handled by the (district attorney's) office."

Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey, who heads the Butte County Officer Involved Shooting Investigation Team, did not return two phone messages left at his office by The Star.

Scott Harris, a sergeant and criminal investigator with the Chico Police Department, also declined to comment on the case.

Scott Rushing continues to wait for answers.

"My son was a very kind person," he said, noting his son ran a window cleaning business in Ventura and a photography business.

"I think the burden of proof should be on them and not us to prove that the shootings were justified," Scott Rushing said.

"We just want the truth."