Deputies shoot man on lam

Butte County Sheriff’s Office deputies fatally shot a Red Bluff man Monday afternoon (Jan. 28) after stopping him in connection with an attempted murder earlier that day.

According to a BCSO news release, Richard Moulton, 52, had assaulted his estranged wife—biting her face and attempting to gouge out her eyes—and put a loaded gun in her mouth. When she escaped, he fired nine shots in her direction. He fled Red Bluff in his truck, which Butte County deputies spotted in the Durham area. A pursuit ended at Highway 162 and Aguas Frias Road; when Moulton exited the vehicle and raised the gun in deputies’ direction, they fired.

Moulton was pronounced dead at the scene. All nine deputies involved have been placed on administrative duties pending an investigation by the Butte County Officer Involved Shooting/Critical Incident Protocol Team.