RS - Man shot by deputy was hit three times

Man shot by deputy was hit three times
Chris Durant/The Times-Standard
Article Launched: 10/05/2007 04:47:49 PM PDT

The man who allegedly raised his shotgun toward a Humboldt County Sheriff deputy who was investigating a marijuana garden on Pacific Lumber Company property Wednesday was hit three times, twice in the chest.
Humboldt County Coroner Frank Jager said a Friday autopsy revealed the cause of death was the gunshot wounds.

”Both bullets to the chest were fatal,” Jager said, adding that they severed major arteries.

Two deputies were called to the Palco land when a marijuana garden was discovered. When they arrived, along with an evidence technician, a Palco security guard lead them to the grow.

The deputies followed a trail to the garden while the guard and technician waited on a ridge.

One deputy began to follow a waterline while the other deputy continued on the trail. Soon a man armed with a shotgun, later identified as Eloy Infante-Toscano, 40, was walking on the trail toward the deputy.

Toscano raised his shotgun at the deputy and the deputy fired numerous time, according to the Sheriff's Department.

The area, about 13 miles east of Holmes Flat, is remote and medical aid took over an hour to get there, but that didn't make a difference, Jager said.

”He may not have made it even if they had a doctor on the scene,” Jager said.

Both deputies have been placed on paid administrative leave.