Officer Javier Bejar, 28, of Reedley, California, was critically wounded by gunfire on February 25, 2010, during a shootout in Minkler and died on March 1, 2010, at Community Regional Medical Center. He had been responding to an officer down call while officers attempted to serve an arrest warrant on 51-year-old Ricky Liles, who was suspected in a string of arsons and shootings. Deputies forced entry after no response from the mobile home; upon entry Liles opened fire, killing Fresno County Sheriff’s Deputy Joel Wahlenmaier and wounding Deputy Mark Harris. Liles then barricaded himself and continued exchanging gunfire; Officer Bejar was struck during that exchange.

Ricky Liles was later found dead inside the mobile home, having apparently taken his own life. A woman believed to be Liles’ wife had exited the home earlier. Bejar had served with the Reedley Police Department since 2005 and was a decorated Marine Corps veteran, named Reedley PD’s Officer of the Year in 2007 and awarded a life-saving medal in 2009. The community and law enforcement mourned his death; no further arrests were announced.