The Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Sergeant who died following a pursuit and shooting Monday in Yucca Valley was a father of two daughters, 11 years old and 4 months old. Sgt. Dominic Vaca, 43, died Monday night at Desert Regional hospital. He was shot following an attempted traffic stop and pursuit involving a person on a motorcycle, the person on the motorcycle was shot and killed by responding deputies. Vaca’s father said his son was a loving husband and father. Vaca had served 17 years with the department. According to the Sheriff’s office, Deputies from the Morongo Basin station were monitoring off-highway vehicle violations when they spotted a man riding a motorcycle without a license plate. They attempted to stop the motorcycle and a pursuit ensued. Shortly after, the motorcycle was located, but the rider was gone. As they approached the motorcycle and attempted to find the rider, the man started firing and Vaca was struck by the gunfire. Responding deputies located the shooter and he started shooting at the additional deputies. The deputies returned fire and the man was killed. A handgun was located at the scene.
