White Supremacist killed in shootout with California deputies

On September 24, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, headquartered in Obispo, California, reported that their deputies conducted a traffic stop on a wanted felon in the 3400 block of Theatre Drive in Templeton, California. Shortly before 10:30 a.m., a deputy on patrol noticed that wanted felon’s vehicle parked on a downtown street in the city of about 30,000 residents in a wine region on California’s central coast.

After he pulled his car over to the side of the road, the suspect fled from his vehicle on foot.   The deputy gave chase and was soon joined by a second deputy in the search. The suspect ran through the area vineyards to a nearby cemetery, hid, and then ambushed the deputies.

The suspect fired multiple rounds from his handgun at the deputies, striking one of them in his leg.

The deputies returned fire.

“The suspect continued to flee and attempted to return to his vehicle through the vineyard. Additional deputies arrived on scene and intercepted the suspect as he tried to regain access to his vehicle. He was still armed with a handgun at which point a second officer involved shooting took place on Theatre Drive.“

“The suspect was pronounced deceased at the scene.” ~ San Luis Obispo County’s Sheriff Ian Parkinson

The following day, the Sheriff’s Office identified their suspect to the public as 38-year-old Christopher Michael Straub of Templeton.

Straub had a significant criminal history having been booked 28 times into jails all across California including two incarcerations in state prison. Straub was a known member of a white supremacist gang and a criminal investigation had already been initiated by the Sheriff’s Gang Task Force when this incident occurred.

Multiple weapons were discovered afterwards in Straub’s vehicle including four assault rifles, one bolt action hunting rifle, one shotgun, two handguns – plus the handgun he used to shoot at deputies. After a search warrant was served on his residence, it was discovered he was illegally manufacturing parts for weapons.

As a wanted felon, the Sheriff’s Office confirmed that it is illegal for felons to possess any weapons.

The deputy shot in the leg during the shootout has been identified as 34-year-old Richard “Ted” Lehnhoff.  After the shooting, Deputy Lehnhoff was airlifted to a local hospital where he received medical attention. He underwent surgery on his leg and is now recovering and in stable condition.

Lehnhoff began his career at the Sheriff’s Office in 2008 as a Correctional Deputy. He left for a job in law enforcement in Riverside County. In 2015, he returned to the Sheriff’s Office to work as a Patrol Deputy.

You can check out Sheriff Parkinson’s press conference regarding the shootout below.

(Cover image, Christopher Michael Straub mugshot, Image credit: San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office)
(Source: San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office)

~  Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter