Tense scene in Lemoore as police standoff ends with suspect, reportedly firing on officers and neighborhood, arrested

The incident began Friday night (Jan. 3) at about 8:30 p.m. when police officers responded to E. Hazelwood regarding what they believed was an intoxicated suspect armed with two guns. When police arrived at the scene, they heard gunshots from within the residence. Officers immediately began evacuating neighboring residents before contacting the suspect.

While escorting neighbors to safety, the suspect began firing from his residence at the officers. With assistance from the Kings County Sheriff’s Office and the Central Valley SWAT Team, the remainder of the neighbors were evacuated via an armored vehicle.

The police contacted the suspect by telephone in an attempt to get him to surrender peacefully. The suspect, 41-year-old Teddy Mata of Lemoore, refused and continued firing his weapon at police officers and the surrounding neighborhood.

The standoff continued for more than six hours while the police continued to urge Mata to surrender. It was about 3 a.m. that the suspect finally emerged from the residence still unwilling to surrender. At that point, a police K9 was used, and officers managed to take Mata into custody.

According to police reports, no officers used their weapons during the incident.

The suspect, Mata, was taken to a local hospital for treatment, and when he’s released will be transported and booked into the Kings County Jail.