Posted: Aug 30, 2010 12:16 PM
TUCSON - Two Pima County Sheriff's deputies are on administrative leave after firing lethal shots into a home during a SWAT situation.
On August 27, 2010, at approximately 9:00 p.m., deputies responded to the 4200 block of W. Pyracantha reference a 911 call where a male, identified as Tim Debeau (04/15/53), stated, "I just killed my girlfriend."
Deputies attempted to make contact with the caller, but he refused to comply and barricaded himself inside the residence. The Pima Regional SWAT Team deployed a robot in an attempt to contact the suspect.
While attempting to make contact, the camera on the robot observed a female, identified as Yolanda Pronko (09/27/56), in the residence with obvious signs of trauma. It was determined she was deceased at that time.
A short while later, deputies say, the suspect emerged from the residence with a hammer in one hand and a knife in the other. According to PCSO, he made aggressive movements towards the SWAT Team, and members fired multiple shots at the suspect. He was transported to the hospital with life threatening injuries, where he was later pronounced deceased.
The Pima County Sheriff's department tells News 4, the two SWAT members who fired the lethal shots are Deputy Stephen Ferree and Detective Kevin Kubitskey. Deputy Ferree has been a member of the Pima County Sheriff's Department since October of 2004, and Detective Kubitskey since February of 1999.
Officer Horetski, who fired two less than lethal projectiles, is a 6 year veteran of the Oro Valley Police Department. The less than lethal projectiles were fired at the suspect prior to lethal rounds being deployed.
Both deputies are on administrative leave through Wednesday, September 1st. Officer Horetski will not be placed on administrative leave.
Homicide arrived on scene and the investigation continues.
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