Los Angeles County paid a total of nearly $9.8 million to settle two lawsuits arising from the Tory Carlon shooting at Fire Station 81 in Agua Dulce: $7.2 million to Carlon’s widow and daughters in September 2024, and $2.575 million a year earlier to Fire Captain Arnoldo Sandoval, who was shot and permanently disabled in the same attack. Both suits alleged that county fire officials knew for years that the shooter, off-duty firefighter Jonathan Tatone, posed a danger to Carlon and did nothing.
What Happened at Fire Station 81
On the morning of June 1, 2021, Jonathan Patrick Tatone, a 45-year-old firefighter engineer assigned to a different shift at Station 81, drove to the Agua Dulce station after his own shift had ended and opened fire on Carlon, a 44-year-old firefighter specialist. Witnesses reported Tatone shouted “Payback’s a b—, motherf—!” during the attack.1Los Angeles Times. L.A. County To Pay Former Fire Captain Shot at Agua Dulce Station Captain Sandoval came outside to investigate and was shot in the stomach; the bullet penetrated his spine.2FirefighterCloseCalls. Former LACoFD Fire Captain Awarded $2.6M After Being Shot at Station
Tatone fled in a pickup truck to his home on Bent Spur Drive in Acton, about ten miles away, barricaded himself inside, set the house on fire, and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Deputies found his body in a pool outside the burning residence, and no shots were fired by law enforcement.3ABC7. Fire Station Shooting Agua Dulce4NBC Los Angeles. Firefighter Killed in Shooting at Fire Station in Agua Dulce
The Warnings the County Ignored
Carlon and Tatone were engineers on different shifts who shared equipment but rarely worked together. Tatone had complained for years that Carlon failed to complete shift “pass down” duties and engine maintenance, and the friction escalated over time.1Los Angeles Times. L.A. County To Pay Former Fire Captain Shot at Agua Dulce Station
Beginning in 2019, Carlon kept a calendar and notebook documenting the conflict, including an incident in which Tatone told him the next step would be “fists flying.” Sandoval later described Tatone to investigators as an “aggressive, angry individual” and a “loner.” At least one station captain reported that Carlon had said he feared Tatone would “one day shoot and kill him.”1Los Angeles Times. L.A. County To Pay Former Fire Captain Shot at Agua Dulce Station Sandoval said he had recommended that Tatone be transferred away from Station 81, but the request was dismissed by county authorities as “unnecessary.” No separation or discipline followed.5Los Angeles Times. Two Lawsuits Filed in Deadly Agua Dulce Fire Station Shooting
The Wrongful Death Lawsuit
In January 2022, Carlon’s widow Heidi, their adult daughter Joslyn, and their two minor daughters sued Los Angeles County and Tatone’s estate in Los Angeles County Superior Court.6Daily News. Widow, Children of Slain Firefighter Tory Carlon Sue L.A. County, Shooter’s Estate The complaint, filed by attorney Thomas J. Johnston of Johnston & Hutchinson LLP, alleged that department leadership’s “ratification of Tatone’s years of dangerous conduct” was a “substantial factor” in Carlon’s death. It described Tatone as “an open wound in Fire Station 81, left to fester and infect for years” by leaders who “chose to ignore, normalize, and ratify” his behavior, arguing that the county “enabled and ratified the very conduct that caused it to happen.”7FireLawBlog. Carlon v. County of Los Angeles, Case No. 22STCV02526 – Complaint
The county’s motion to dismiss was denied, and the case moved forward.8FireRescue1. Former LACoFD Captain Receives $2.6M Settlement in Fatal Firefighter Shooting
The $7.2 Million Settlement
On September 10, 2024, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $7.2 million settlement resolving the Carlon family’s wrongful death case. Records showed attorney fees had reached nearly $600,000 before the settlement was reached.9The Signal. County Settles With Family of Slain Firefighter for $7.2M Supervisor Kathryn Barger said, “Nothing can help ease the pain or fill the void left by Tory. I will continue honoring both his memory and brave service to our Los Angeles County Fire Department.” Johnston thanked the Board of Supervisors for “helping bring some closure to this case.”10Los Angeles Times. Firefighter Millions Settlement
Captain Sandoval’s Separate Settlement
Sandoval filed his own civil lawsuit in January 2022 alleging assault, battery, and negligence.5Los Angeles Times. Two Lawsuits Filed in Deadly Agua Dulce Fire Station Shooting In September 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved a $2.575 million settlement with him. County Counsel Dawyn R. Harrison said the payment was recommended “due to the risks and uncertainties of litigation” and to “avoid further litigation costs.” Sandoval, now a former fire captain, cannot walk without crutches or braces because of his spinal injuries.1Los Angeles Times. L.A. County To Pay Former Fire Captain Shot at Agua Dulce Station His attorney, Rick Kinnan, said Sandoval “wants to do anything and everything he can to make sure this never happens again.”9The Signal. County Settles With Family of Slain Firefighter for $7.2M
Policy Changes at the Fire Department
Three weeks after the shooting, on June 22, 2021, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to direct the fire department to develop measures addressing workplace trauma and potential violence. The approved plan called for scheduled mental health visits for firefighters and their families, expanded access to workers’ compensation treatment, peer support groups, improved internal communication, reduced staff recalls, and efforts to fill department vacancies.11FireRescue1. Los Angeles County Board Votes To Address Workplace Violence at Fire Department