Officer in good condition after shootout

With one man dead and a police officer wounded, investigators continue searching through the scene of Tuesday's nine-hour standoff near Gerber.

California Highway Patrol Officer David Madrigal received a gunshot wound in the leg while responding to a domestic disturbance call in the 22000 block of Reno Avenue near the Tehama County town.

James Long, 60, who died at the scene, allegedly shot Madrigal after his commonlaw wife, Jeanie Bradley, called 911 about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. She said he was throwing and breaking household items, according to Tehama County Sheriff Clay Parker.

The Tehama inter-agency SWAT team entered the home about 7:30 p.m. and found Long's body on the kitchen floor.

"It appears the cause of death was from a gunshot wound but until the autopsy has been completed we are unable to say whether or not the wound was self-inflicted or a result of the shootout with my deputies," Parker said.

The autopsy will be performed Thursday morning in Woodland, according to Tehama County Deputy Coroner Chris Sharp.

Madrigal remains at Mercy Medical Center in Redding, following surgery for the gunshot wound to his right leg.

"He is in good spirits and doing well," CHP Officer Roger Smith said. "The surgery was successful, but Dave will be recovering for quite some time."

Madrigal, 41, an 18-year CHP veteran, has served at the Red Bluff office for two-and-a-half years.

The standoff

"Jean and Jim had got in a fight over a number of things including that fact she had disconnected the Internet from their home," according to family friend Susan Mabe. "I was on the phone with Jean when Jim was throwing and breaking things in their home. I told her to get out of the house. She called the police and got out."

Mabe said Bradley told her, "Jim has flipped out."

Bradley ran out of the house and hid near a motor home about 50 feet from the house, where she remained until police arrived.

In addition to Madrigal, Tehama County Sheriff's deputies Chad Data and Bob Hopton responded to the call.

"As soon as the officers got out of their patrol vehicles, Long stepped out of the eastside door of his house and started firing, using both a shotgun and a rifle," Parker said.

Hit above his right knee when a round ricocheted underneath his car, Madrigal never drew his gun, Parker said.

Dada and Hopton returned fire. Using a shotgun, Dada fired 15 rounds at the suspect. Hopton protected Madrigal, firing a 15-round magazine from his .40 cal handgun, Parker said.

"The two deputies did everything exactly as they should have," Parker said.

Within minutes, dozens of law enforcement officers from multiple agencies were on scene.

SWAT teams from Tehama and Shasta counties established a perimeter around the property.

The Tehama County Sheriff's Office used its new telephonic emergency notification system to evacuate the surrounding area. Gerber Elementary School went on voluntary lockdown until the end of the school day.

Included in the evacuation were Long's father, who lives on the same property, and his sister and brother-in-law, who live nearby.

After the shooting, officers tried to contact Long, using loud speakers and telephones, without success. Eventually, they fired tear gas into the house.

"We didn't get one iota of response from the suspect," Parker said.

Finally, the SWAT team sent a remote camera into the house through an open door, Parker said, allowing them to see the suspect's body.

Officers found an arsenal of weapons and ammunition in the kitchen and living room.

"We located a .223 caliber rifle with scope and a full magazine, another .223 caliber rifle and two 12-gauge shotguns with both double-ought buckshot and slugs," Parker said.

"This situation couldn't have been handled any better. Lives were saved because law enforcement responded correctly and cautiously," he said.

Investigators include the Tehama County Sheriff's and District Attorney's offices as well as the California Department of Justice and the CHP.

Contact Julie R. Johnson at 824-5464 or jjohnson@tcnpress.com.