DA’s office rules deadly Deputy-Involved Shooting was justified

The Riverside County District Attorney ruled that there was no criminal culpability in a deputy-involved shooting that left an ax-wielding man dead.

The DIS happened on the morning of June 3, 2018.

Deputies were called to assist officers with the California Highway Patrol and crews from CAL FIRE/Riverside County with a non-compliant person armed with an ax, a Sheriff's Department spokesperson told News Channel 3 at the time of the incident.

At around 3:30 a.m., deputies shot and killed David Ponce, 42, in the area of Lincoln Street and 66th Avenue.

Details on the moments leading up to the shooting have not been released.

Cal Fire crews returned to the area later that evening to extinguish smoldering debris at the scene of an earlier fire. While separating debris, the charred remains of a woman, later identified as Brandy Kiehl, 38, were found.

Kiehl's exact cause of death was not disclosed.

Authorities did not release more details on whether the two June 3rd incidents are related, however, staff at the Galilee Center recognized Ponce and Kiehl in the photo above and added that she would regularly come in to use the showers. Kiehl's mother also told News Channel 3 the man in the photo was named David.