June 2, 2026 – Tulare County Sheriff’s Office officials report that they have identified the man 
involved in the recent officer-involved shooting as Michael Piñon. Piñon, who has a significant criminal history, was found to have nine arrests in the last three years, including being under the influence of a controlled substance, as well as two prior arrests for obstructing an officer.
Around 10:30 a.m. on May 20, 2026, TCSO Deputies were called to a home in the 400 Block of Matheny Road in Tulare for an alleged welfare check.
During the welfare check of homes in the area, Deputies tried to make contact with Piñon verbally through an open back door. However, Piñon refused to come out of the house, and told Deputies to come down the hallway, indicating he was in the living room. Despite repeated calls for him to come out, Piñon would not.
Piñon then emerged from the hallway and rushed out of the back door with a black object raised in his hand, which was later determined to be a cell phone. At the time of the incident however, Piñon held the phone with his finger parallel to the device. As he rushed out the back door, Deputies believed the object in Pinon’s hand was a weapon. Fearing for their safety, Deputies fired three shots, with a total of two deputies discharging their weapons.
Through the investigation, it was discovered that Piñon had no permission to be on the property or in the house and had no relationship to the owners of the home. The door to the home had noticeable damage indicating it had been forcibly opened.
There was a small amount of illegal narcotics found inside the home. Initial presumptive toxicology tests have shown Pinon was under the influence of Methamphetamine and Cocaine.
The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office is committed to transparency and will provide further updates as more information becomes available.
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Source: Tulare County Sheriff’s Office
