Los Angeles County Sheriff’s officials are continuing their investigation into the apparent suicide of an off-duty deputy who fatally shot himself at a bar in Santa Clarita.
The deputy, Jonathan Buchan. 33, shot himself at 1:30 a.m. Friday at Mabel’s Roadhouse in the 26300 block of Bouquet Canyon Road.
The sheriff’s department confirmed to City News Service that the deputy was off-duty at the time and the death was being regarded as a suicide.
The father of the deputy, who requested anonymity, told the Santa Clarita Valley Signal that his son served two tours in Afghanistan during his four years in the Marines, and had three years with the sheriff’s department.
“He was a real hero,” the father said.
The deputy was not assigned to the Santa Clarita Valley station at the time of the shooting, according to The Signal.
Buchan was named the Honor Recruit for the sheriff’s department’s Recruit Class 443 in 2020, an award given to the recruit with the highest numerical average based on leadership qualities, academics, marksmanship, and physical performance throughout the training period, officials said.
He graduated from Saugus High School in 2008, where his name is listed on its Wall of Honor.
The Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau is conducting the investigation.