Crime & Safety

Sister of Man Fatally Shot by Deputies in Yucaipa: 'He Was Not Violent'

The sister of a man who was fatally shot by deputies Saturday in Yucaipa contacted Redlands-Loma Linda Patch on Monday because she wants people to know her brother was a recovering addict, but he was a peaceful man.

"My brother Merlin Factor was a beautiful person," Cassandra Hudson, 31, of Yucaipa said. "He was not violent. He was never known to carry a weapon. I want the rest of the community to know what kind of person my brother was. 

"If anyone could say anything negative about him it is he was an addict and he didn't have a home," Hudson said Monday evening in a phone interview. "Technically he's my half-brother, but we were blood, we have the same mom. We were extremely close."

Factor, 26, was suspected in a vandalism/disturbance call in the 12900 block of 2nd Street on Saturday afternoon, before deputies stopped a vehicle in front of 1st Baptist Church on Yucaipa Boulevard, according to the Sheriff's Department.

About 4:30 p.m. June 29, a struggle ensued and deputies, fearing for their lives, shot Factor, according to law enforcement and witnesses. Paramedics responded and took Factor to Redlands Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:20 p.m., according to the coroner.

"From what I've heard from witnesses, he was murdered in cold blood," Hudson said. "I don't want to piss off any cops, but just because you have a badge you don't have a right to pop off 11 shots. I've seen the video online. I've counted the shots. I believe they used extreme excessive force, put it that way."

Sheriff's homicide detectives are among those assigned to investigate the deputy involved shooting.

Factor was born at St. Bernardine's Hospital in San Bernardino and he grew up in Yucaipa, Hudson said. He attended a vocational school in Yucaipa, Hudson said.

"He never had a chance to have children of his own," Hudson said. "But he was a beautiful, peaceful person, and he really loved his nephews and niece. . . .  Ryan Crook, 16, Justin, 9, Michael Barnt, 10, Ashley Barnt, 12. They're my children.

"I cannot express it in strong enough words: He was not a violent person. He didn't like to fight. He was afraid to get hurt. I wasn't there and I didn't see what happened, so I don't know what happened.

"But he never owned a gun or carried a gun or any other kind of weapon, that I know of," Hudson said.

Asked about where Factor lived most recently, Hudson said, "Most recently he didn't have his own place, he had just got out of Set Free.

"He had a drug and alcohol problem," Hudson said. "He was at the ranch in Cabazon, and at the Set Free Church in Yucaipa, but he wasn't able to stay sober."

Asked about the woman who was with Factor on Saturday during the alleged vandalism/disturbance, Hudson said, "They were dating, they had been dating on and off."

Hudson said she hadn't spoken to the woman since her brother died. She said she hopes people in Yucaipa will consider her brother and his life before they pass judgment.

The photo she shared of Factor was taken in February this year, while he was still at Set Free, Hudson said.

"I want other people to care about what happened," she said. "I think in the photo you can see his warmth, the love in his eyes."

Previous Patch reports are at the following links:

UPDATE: Sheriff's Department IDs Suspect Fatally Shot by Deputies in Yucaipa

VIDEO: Deputies Shoot Suspect 'Struggling, Reaching for Waistband' in 1st Baptist Church Lot


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Redlands-Loma Linda