Northern California deputy fatally shoots armed woman in Butte Creek Canyon
A Butte County Sheriff’s Office deputy shot and killed a woman who pointed a rifle at law enforcement Thursday afternoon in a secluded part of Northern California, authorities said.
Deputies responded about 2:39 p.m. to the 11000 block of Butte Creek Island Road in Butte Creek Canyon after a 911 caller reported the woman had threatened to kill a neighbor,the Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.
When deputies arrived, the 48-year-old woman aimed a rifle at them and told them to shoot her, according to the statement. A deputy fired a single shot from his service rifle.
The woman was taken to a hospital and later died, officials said. She was identified Friday afternoon as Valerie Ann Cadwallader, a Chico resident.
No deputies were injured, authorities said.
The Butte County District Attorney’s Office, the county’s Officer Involved Shooting Protocol Team and the state Department of Justice were investigating the incident. The deputy who fired the shot was expected to be placed on administrative leave during the investigation, following department protocol.
Butte Creek Canyon is located about 10 miles east of Chico.
This story was originally published May 9, 2025 at 10:15 AM.
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