Suspect killed by Fresno Co. deputy identified, family says he was battling Huntington's Disease

Monday, July 3, 2023
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The suspect who died after being shot by a Fresno County sheriff's deputy in southeast Fresno on Friday has been identified.

The Fresno County Sheriff's Office says the man is 30-year-old Tyler Deel.
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This wasn't Deel's first violent interaction with law enforcement officers. In September 2015, he was arrested for attacking an officer while Deel was working at a McDonald's on Kings Canyon Road and Clovis Avenue.

RELATED: Fresno McDonald's employee accused of attacking police officer

The restaurant is located just about a 1/3rd of a mile away from the gas station where Deel died on Friday.

The shooting happened around 4:15 pm behind the Valero on Clovis and Balch avenues.
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The sheriff's office says it was reported that Deel was trying to attack his family members with a knife at a nearby home on Waverly Lane and Park Circle Drive.



After leaving the home, Deel was approached by a deputy as he was walking through the shopping center behind the gas station.

Officials say Deel refused to drop a tree branch he was holding and started to run toward the deputy.

The tree branch the Fresno County Sheriff's Office says Tyler Deel was holding when he started to run toward the deputy.

Fresno County Sheriff's Office



The deputy fired at the suspect multiple times, hitting him at least once.
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Deel suspect died of his injuries at the scene.

On Sunday night, the Deel family issued a statement about the shooting:

Our beloved son, Tyler Deel, had been battling the effects of Juvenile-Onset Huntington's Disease since his diagnosis at 8 years old.

Huntington's disease (HD) is a rare, degenerative neurological disorder that is often described as combining Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and ALS. There is no cure.



"The symptoms of HD can vary from person to person, but they usually include:
Personality changes, mood swings & depression
Forgetfulness, impaired judgment & seizures
Unsteady gait & involuntary movements (chorea)
Slurred speech, difficulty in swallowing & significant weight loss"
Source: Alzheimer's Association

Symptoms worsen over the course of 10 to 25 years and affect the ability to reason, walk, and talk until the person is bedridden and totally dependent on others for care. HD is ultimately fatal.

It is important to note that not all individuals with Huntington's Disease have violent behaviors and psychiatric symptoms, but Tyler was severely impacted in this area. Tyler also suffered from seizures and had Juvenile Diabetes, resulting in the partial amputation of his foot. This, in combination with HD, led to significant mobility impairments.



As a family, we have always supported and respected our local law enforcement agencies and their officers. We are heartbroken, not only over the loss of our son but for all those involved. We are grateful for all the professionals who spent years providing care and helping our family navigate this horrible disease. In particular, Dr. H. Terry Hutchinson has been an incredible blessing and advocate for our family.

We ask for your prayers and understanding as we grieve the loss of Tyler and await answers from the Fresno Police Department investigation.


Tyler Deel and his mom.

Deel Family

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