Dorner Shootout Similar to Fresno County Manhunt

The hunt for Christopher Dorner and the spot where it ended are eerily similar to the search for the man who killed a Fresno sheriff's deputy in 2002.

On May 19^th, 2002 Deputy Dennis Phelps was shot and killed after he pulled over a car.

21-year-old Mark Volpa was identified as the killer.

Volpa fled to Auberry in the foothills eluding capture for a week, before he was shot to death in a gunfight with deputies.

“There are very unique challenges in a mountain area like that,” said Fresno Sheriff Margaret Mims.

Fresno Sheriff Margaret Mims says a manhunt in that terrain is very different than what deputies would face in a city.

“You're going to run into areas where you're not going to be able to see for instance over the next hill or rise. There might not be areas where you can get actual cover so that you don't expose your position or make yourself a target,” Mims said.

In January, Mims was elected by her peers to lead the sheriffs in this region when a massive manhunt or disaster occurs and departments need help from one another. Training was held just two weeks ago.

“So we're going to be prepared as much as possible if we're called in to service to help or if we need to help,” Mims said.