Tulare County Sheriff says deputy shot, killed unhoused suspect in self-defense

PORTERVILLE, Calif. (KFSN) -- An investigation continues at the Porterville police department after a Tulare County sheriff deputy was involved in a shooting that killed 49-year-old Calixto Felix Mendoza.

Sheriff Mike Boudreaux says body camera footage shows Mendoza charging at law enforcement with a wooden pole in his hand and the deputy doing what he could to de-escalate the situation:

"Body cam video is truly important because it's a true depiction of what's actually taking place. Sometimes, when people hear this, they really don't feel the impact that the Officer goes through. When you see the video, it justifies the actions of the officer."

Mendoza had four warrants out for his arrest, including for domestic violence and resisting arrest.

Authorities believe he was unhoused.

The Porterville Police Department has no recent updates on the investigation but says they received 3,000 calls regarding unhoused individuals in 2025 alone.

"It's really quite something how bad this problem has gotten and I hope and pray all the time that a more meaningful process can be developed to get these people where they need to go to be a little more successful," says Porterville Police Interim Chief Bobby Rader.

He says most calls are for trespassing and welfare checks.

They have 8 officers working in their Special Methods and Resource Team, SMART.

The goal is to guide individuals to local resources.

"It's heartbreaking when we talk to people that are making a conscious choice and they want to get high. What do you do with that? What's the answer?" he says. "We talk to people that you can tell don't want to do it, they are stuck, they are broken, and absolutely that impacts us."

The Porterville Police Department encourages people who would like to support local services to reach out to local shelters and non-profits. In the meantime, they will continue their investigation into yesterday's incident.

For South Valley news updates, follow Kassandra Gutierrez on Facebook, X and Instagram.