August 10, 2025

Deputy-Involved Shooting in Lake Forest

News Summary

A deputy from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department shot a suspect during an arrest attempt at a Lake Forest strip mall. The suspect, Ethan Chase Mull, was wanted for multiple felony charges and allegedly pointed a loaded handgun at deputies, prompting the shooting. Mull was transported to a local hospital after sustaining injuries. An ongoing investigation by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office is examining the incident, which led to a K-9 officer biting a deputy and resulted in property damage at a nearby business.

Lake Forest

On August 7, 2025, an Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputy shot a felony suspect during an arrest attempt at a strip mall in Lake Forest. The incident occurred shortly before 3 p.m. and involved 34-year-old Ethan Chase Mull, who was wanted on several felony warrants related to theft, weapons, and drug offenses.

Mull was also a suspect in a domestic violence incident that occurred the previous day, though further details regarding that situation have not been disclosed. Law enforcement officials tracked Mull to a location near El Toro Road and Trabuco Road as he exited a retail store. When deputies attempted to detain him, Mull allegedly pointed a loaded handgun at them. This action prompted a deputy to fire his weapon, striking Mull in the process.

At the scene, deputies recovered the loaded handgun. Notably, Mull did not fire any shots at the deputies during the confrontation. He received medical assistance on-site before being transported by the Orange County Fire Authority to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery. As of 6:30 p.m. on the day of the shooting, his medical condition had not been reported.

Scene of the Incident

The gunfire caused a bullet hole to appear in the front window of a nearby Postal Annex as a result of the altercation. Law enforcement response included a sheriff’s K-9 team, which resulted in one deputy being bitten by the K-9; however, this incident was unrelated to the shooting itself. The injured deputy was treated at a local hospital and was subsequently released, with no other deputies experiencing injuries during the confrontation.

Ongoing Investigation

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is currently investigating the deputy-involved shooting. As part of the investigation, audio and video recordings from the scene will be released in accordance with legal requirements.

Background on the Suspect

Ethan Chase Mull has a history of legal troubles. He was previously convicted in 2018 for felony assault with a deadly weapon, followed by additional criminal charges in 2023 that included firearms and drug offenses. Mull received a sentence of three years in prison for various charges in 2023 but had violated post-release community supervision on two separate occasions, leading to an active warrant being issued in 2025.

In July 2025, Mull faced multiple charges, including burglary and possession of firearms and controlled substances, linked to an incident where he attempted to steal items from a Public Storage facility in Irvine. His ongoing pattern of criminal behavior and previous convictions cemented his status as a significant suspect leading up to the shooting in Lake Forest.