District Attorney Clears Deputies in Fatal Shooting of Lompoc Man

Source: Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office

Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce E. Dudley announced today that the legal analysis of the October 9, 2021 officer-involved shooting that resulted in the death of Travis Daniel Carlon has been concluded.

The detailed analysis is posted on the Office of the Santa Barbara County District Attorney website at https://countyofsb.org/da/msm_county/documents/TravisCarlonOISReportFINAL.pdf

PUBLIC REPORT ON OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING OF TRAVIS DANIEL CARLON ON OCTOBER 9TH, 2021

The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office has completed its review of the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office (“SBSO”) investigation into the homicide of Travis Daniel Carlon, age 32, occurring on October 9, 2021, in the County of Santa Barbara, California.

The following analysis is based upon investigative reports, coroner’s reports, video and audio recordings, photographs, and witness interviews taken during the investigation and submitted to this office by SBSO Detective Daniel Kohli.

The District Attorney finds the shooting was a justifiable homicide under Penal Code sections 196 and 835a.

FACTUAL HISTORY

Summary

On October 9, 2021, at approximately 6:30pm, Lompoc Police Department (LOPD) Officers responded to Lompoc Liquor after receiving a 911 call regarding a domestic disturbance with a gun. Officer contacted the reporting party David W., who stated that his roommate, Travis Carlon held a gun to Roxanne M.’s head and threatened them at their residence located at 722 West Cypress Avenue earlier in the day. David told LOPD that Roxanne and Carlon were still at the house on Cypress and that Carlon still had the gun, which David described as a revolver.

LOPD responded to 722 West Cypress Avenue and set up a perimeter around the house at approximately 6:40pm. While developing a tactical plan and waiting for SWAT response, LOPD had the Armored Rescue Vehicle (ARV) come to the residence and officers identified themselves and gave commands over the PA system asking Carlon to come out of the residence and to throw the gun out of the residence. Officers Calderon, Mendoza, and Molina set up across the street from the house behind cars that were parked across the street. All three could see the house and the front door. As the announcements were being made, Officers could see Carlon looking out the windows. Carlon also came to the front door and opened and closed the front door multiple times. At 8:26pm, Carlon opened the door a final time and came out of the house onto the front porch. In his hand was a revolver, he pointed the revolver at the ARV and then at the officers directly across the street from him. Officers Calderon, Mendoza, and Molina fired their weapons at Carlon.

Carlon was hit 15 times and was pronounced dead on scene. A black revolver was found on the front porch with two rounds, one spent and one live, in the revolver. Upon search of the home, a suicide note was found where Carlon wrote notes to his children.

Initial Reports

On October 9, 2021, at approximately 6:30pm, Lompoc Police Department (LOPD) interviewed David W. after responding to David’s 911 call. David stated that he was sleeping in his bedroom, with his girlfriend, Melissa S. David heard crying in the other room and was surprised. He exited the bedroom and went into the living room area and saw his roommate, Travis Carlon holding Roxanne M. at gunpoint. Roxanne M. was the girlfriend of Carlon. David stated that Roxanne was crying uncontrollably. As David tried to exit the living room, Carlon pointed the gun at him and told David to freeze and stop moving. David was trapped in the living room with Carlon for approximately 20 minutes as Carlon pointed the gun back and forth between David and Roxanne. During the 20 minutes, Carlon slowly walked up to David with the firearm pointing at David until the firearm touched the temple of David’s head. David also stated that during the 20 minutes, Carlon put a pillow and the muzzle of the gun up to the bottom of Carlon’s chin as if Carlon was going to commit suicide. After the firearm was pointed at David’s head, Roxanne distracted Carlon and David was able to escape out of the window and get out of the house. Melissa had already managed to get out of the house and picked up David and they drove away and contacted law enforcement. David told LOPD that Roxanne and Carlon were still at the house and that Carlon still had the gun, which David described as a revolver.

Read the rest of the report here.