Stanislaus County Deputy's Brutal Murder Leaves Community In Shock

MODESTO (CBS13) — David Machado is behind bars tonight, after allegedly killing Stanislaus Sheriff's Deputy Dennis Wallace yesterday morning. Machado was arrested 2.5 hours south of Hughson in Lindsay on Sunday afternoon. While he was on the run, he allegedly stole a car from a family in Ceres.

"It's kind of numbing to a certain degree because we don't have troubles on this street," said Wanda Greenwood, who lives across the street from the family.

HOW TO HELP:

A Memorial Fund for Deputy Dennis Wallace has been established by the Stanislaus Sworn Deputies Association.

Donations can be made in several ways:

In person at any West America Bank branch to the Dennis Wallace Memorial Fund

By mail to: Stanislaus Sworn Deputies Association, PO Box 2314, Ceres, CA 95307

She lives on Heston Way and said she got worried when her husband told her to go inside and lock the doors on Sunday morning.

"Kind of shocked cause, I came out to give him something as he was leaving for work and that's when the lady across the street goes 'Did you see what happened?" she said.

Around 8:40 Sunday morning, Greenwood's neighbors told CBS13 that David Machado took their white Kia Rio from their driveway. They asked CBS13 not to use their names because they said Machado used to live in their neighborhood.

One of the homeowners told CBS13 she was in her living room when she looked outside and saw Machado hop over a fence in her backyard. Then, he ran around to the driveway where he demanded the car keys from her husband and drove off. She told her neighbor Greenwood and CBS13 that Machado was visibly upset.

"The state of the mind that the gentlemen was in- he was upset, he was crying," Greenwood explained. "OK fine. But what are you doing!"

This all happened just 20 minutes after Machado allegedly shot and killed Deputy Wallace near the Fox Grove Fishing Access in Hughson. Four hours later, police in Lindsay, CA said Machado tried to steal a woman's purse from inside of a local convenience store. She fought him off and he ran into a nearby alley. That's where Lindsay PD and California Highway Patrol found and arrested Machado. The stolen Kia was found a half mile away from the alley and it's still unclear if Machado had any links to Tulare County.

Greenwood said she hopes Machado gets a fair trial but doesn't think he should go unpunished.

"The justice system needs to do the extent of its job," she said.

Stanislaus District Attorney's Office is now handling the case and Machado is expected to face a judge on Tuesday afternoon.