A Canyon Country woman is alive today after a deputy found the suicidal woman sitting inside a car with the barrel of a shotgun pointed at her face.
Making a “split-second” decision, the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputy grabbed barrel of the shotgun and pulled it safely away from both the woman and himself, Shirley Miller, spokeswoman for the SCV Sheriff’s Station, said Friday.
Shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday, deputies responded to concerns of the woman’s family members worried for her well-being.
“The deputy was responding to a welfare check after a relative called the station indicating the woman was possibly suicidal,” Miller said. “He went to the woman’s house and rang the doorbell.”
When no one came to the door, the deputy looked around and spotted a woman sitting along in a nearby car.
“He saw that she had a shotgun positioned under her chin and made a split second decision,” she said. “He reached inside the car and grabbed the shotgun, and pulled it away from her face from both of them.”
The deputy began talking calmly to the woman and was able to secure the gun, Miller said.
When other deputies and support agencies arrived, the woman was taken to hospital for medical treatment.
“This is an example of the split second decision deputies have to make daily, putting themselves at risk in order to help and save the lives of others,” Miller said.
Mental Health and other resources for the Santa Clarita Valley
College of the Canyons Student Health & Wellness Resource Website
Child & Family Center, Santa Clarita
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Behavioral Health Free and Confidential MH Screening Website:
Mental Health: It’s Part of All Our Lives 1-800- 789-2647
National Child Traumatic Stress Network
National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
National Institute for Mental Health
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800- 273-TALK
SAMHSA Site for Coping with Disaster and Traumatic Events:
Santa Clarita City Mental Health Resource Page
SCV Youth Project (661) 257.YOUTH (9688)
SRD~Straightening Reins – equine therapy 661-803-1641
ACCESS (DMH Mental Health Hotline) (800)-854-7771
Asian Pacific Counseling & Treatment Center (818) 267-1100
Child & Family Center, Santa Clarita (Children, Youth and Adults) (661) 259-9439
Child and Family Guidance Center – Northridge (818) 993-9311
College of the Canyons Student Health & Wellness Center (661)-362- 3259
The Center currently helps over 750 children and their families each week. For more information, contact the Center at 661-259-9439 or visit www.childfamilycenter.org.
To learn more about emotional health and how to get help or support a loved one, visit jedfoundation.org/help.
