A Camp Pendleton-based Marine who was shot by Orange County Sheriff’s deputies in front of his daughters was acting oddly before the shooting the deputies’ union said Tuesday.
As the district attorney’s office continues its investigation, the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs released information about interviews conducted after the deadly confrontation.
Sgt. Manuel Loggins, Jr., described by friends as a devout Christian and mentor to his fellow Marines, was shot and killed during a confrontation with deputies outside a high school in Orange County Feb. 7.
The association said a deputy saw Loggins plow a car through a gate at San Clemente High School then walk away.
His daughters, ages 9 and 14, could be heard screaming in the SUV, and when approached by sheriff's personnel reported their father had been acting oddly, the statement said.
Meanwhile, it said, Loggins – who was not in military uniform -- could be heard in a nearby field yelling irrational statements.
When Loggins returned, he allegedly ignored warnings by deputies not to start the SUV.
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A deputy shot him, fearing for the children's safety, the statement said.
The deputy involved is a 15-year veteran of the department who previously served four years with the Marines, the union said. His name has not been released.
Loggins regularly took early morning prayer walks at the high school track with his family, according to his supervisor Maj. Christopher Cox.
Loggins' wife usually went with him to the track but stopped going because she is nearly nine months pregnant. The couple also has a toddler, according to Cox.
The Orange County Sheriff's Department did not initially report that the girls spoke to deputies before the shooting.
The department previously said the girls were in the SUV when their father was shot to death but did not mention their comments to authorities.
Loggins, of Joliet, Ill., enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1998. He received multiple medals and commendations from the military and had no deployments to Iraq or Afghanistan.
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