San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office Releases Details in Fatal Highway 101 Officer-Involved Shooting
PASO ROBLES, CA – San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office Releases Details in Fatal Highway 101 Officer-Involved Shooting PASO ROBLES, Calif. — The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office has released updated details regarding an officer-involved shooting that left a wanted suspect dead following a pursuit and standoff along Highway 101. The incident began shortly after 8:00 a.m.
on September 17, 2026, when North Station deputies used an Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) system to locate a suspect vehicle at the Hampton Inn on Alexa Court in Paso Robles. Deputies recognized the driver as 44-year-old Randall Kelley, who had previously lived in San Miguel. Kelley was wanted on a no-bail felony warrant for carrying a loaded firearm, possession of narcotics while armed, and stalking, as well as a $15,000 misdemeanor warrant for violating a domestic violence restraining order.
Authorities noted that Kelley had previously made statements to family members expressing a desire to commit “suicide by cop”. When deputies approached the vehicle, Kelley rammed a Sheriff’s Office patrol car and fled. Deputies initiated a pursuit onto northbound Highway 101. Kelley exited the freeway in San Miguel, turned around, and began driving southbound on Highway 101. Due to growing public safety risks, deputies terminated the vehicle pursuit.
Shortly thereafter, Kelley’s vehicle was involved in a traffic collision on southbound Highway 101, just south of Niblick Road. Following the crash, Kelley barricaded himself inside the vehicle and ignored commands to surrender. A member of the Sheriff’s Office Crisis Negotiation Team attempted to reach him by phone to negotiate a peaceful resolution. Meanwhile, an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operator landed a drone on the hood of the vehicle to monitor the interior.
After approximately 20 minutes of negotiations and non-compliance, Kelley exited the vehicle and pointed a handgun at surrounding Sheriff’s deputies and Paso Robles Police Department officers. Officers and deputies discharged their weapons, striking Kelley. Law enforcement and emergency medical personnel approached the vehicle and provided medical care, but Kelley succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
No law enforcement officers or bystanders were injured. During the subsequent investigation, authorities determined that the handgun Kelley pointed at law enforcement was a Crosman SNR357 .177 caliber pellet/BB gun, styled after a .357 caliber revolver.
Photo: San Luis Obispo Sheriff
Photo: San Luis Obispo Sheriff
Photo: San Luis Obispo Sheriff
Review of evidence—including drone footage capturing Kelley gripping the replica weapon with his finger on the trigger before exiting, and dashcam footage showing him pointing the weapon directly at law enforcement—confirmed the sequence of events. Court records indicate Kelley was previously arrested in December 2025 and January 2026 for domestic violence restraining order violations, and in February 2026 for stalking, carrying a loaded firearm, and drug possession while armed. The active warrants were issued earlier in September 2026.
In accordance with department policy, the officers and deputies involved have been placed on paid administrative leave. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Detective Division at 805-781-4500
