Three arrested in connection with shooting death of El Dorado County deputy

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - Three men have been arrested in connection with the death of El Dorado County Sheriff's Deputy Brian Ishmael.

Early Wednesday, October 23, Deputy Ishmael responded to a call of theft from a marijuana garden behind a residence on Sand Ridge Road in Somerset, southeast of Placerville. He had a ride-along passenger at the time, an off-duty San Joaquin County Sheriff's deputy.

As the two deputies made their way around the home, Ishmael called out to individuals in the marijuana garden, asking them to come out and present themselves.

The two men in the garden then starting shooting, according to El Dorado County Sheriff John D'Agostini.

Ishmael was shot in the chest above his vest and in the ankle. He died at the scene. The visiting deputy was shot in the thigh and transported to the hospital for surgery. He has since been released.

Responding officers from multiple agencies surrounded the area, set up a perimeter and for about two hours moved in towards the home, searching for the suspects with help from a CHP helicopter.

The two men who were allegedly in the marijuana garden have been identified as Romiro Bravo Morales, 22-years-old and Juan Carlos Vasquez-Orozco, age 20. Vasquez-Orozco was released from the hospital on Thursday afternoon and booked into the El Dorado County Jail in Placerville on charges of murder and assault with a deadly weapon. No bail has been set for him. Morales has been booked on charges of aiding in the commission of a felony. His bail has been set at $250,000 with a stipulation on the source of bail. Both men are Mexican Nationals but it is unknown if in the country illegally, D'Agostini said.

The man who called 911 and reported the theft, Christopher Garry Ross, 47, has been arrested for involuntary manslaughter. It came out during the investigation that Ross had an arrangement with the two men growing the marijuana in his yard. There were approximately 75 plants outside.

"Had he been truthful with the deputy and dispatch, this event would not have occurred," said the Sheriff during a press conference Thursday.

"There is a lot of violence that surrounds these gardens," said the Sheriff.

All three men were booked into the El Dorado County Jail but are being transferred to other jails outside of the area. This is common practice when the death of law enforcement is involved.

Ross's bail has been set at $50,000.

At this time information about the grow and if it was legal is not being released.

More information will be released as the investigation continues. EDSO does not believe there are any outstanding subjects. The U.S. Attorney's Office and FBI are also involved in this case.