The tragedy, and the rest of the story, behind the killing in Fair Oaks Park begins to emerge.
An excerpt.
Man shot by deputy sought 'suicide by cop,' family says
By Ryan Lillis -- Bee Staff Writer Published 12:01 am PDT Saturday, August 26, 2006
The Elk Grove man shot and killed by a sheriff's deputy Thursday was distraught and intended to commit "suicide by cop," but was "treated off his criminal record," the man's family said.
However, sheriff's officials said Friday that Michael Douglas Riley was a parolee and that officers summoned to Fair Oaks Park were told by a dispatcher that he should be considered armed and dangerous.
Riley, 33, a father of two who was recently divorced from his wife of 12 years, was shot inside the park after police said he approached a deputy while carrying a weapon. Sgt. Tim Curran, a department spokesman, refused to identify the weapon because "we don't want to influence witness statements."
The deputy, a 10-year veteran of the department, is on paid administrative leave at least through Wednesday, which is the earliest the department will identify him, Curran said.
Deputies were called to Fair Oaks Park around 10:15 a.m. by Riley's mother, Lynn, who said her son was acting "crazy," police said. In the 911 call, Riley's mother said her son had mentioned committing "suicide by cop" and said she "thought" she had wrestled a knife away from him, Curran said.
