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2 Killed at Home of Ron Ely, Actor Who Played Tarzan Son of Ron Ely, Actor Who Played Tarzan, Kills His Mother and Is Fatally Shot by Deputies, Officials Say
(about 2 hours later)
A woman was killed at the home of the actor Ron Ely in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Tuesday, and sheriff’s deputies who went to investigate killed a suspect when he threatened them, the authorities said on Wednesday. The son of the actor Ron Ely, who starred in the 1960s television series “Tarzan,” killed his mother on Tuesday in Santa Barbara, Calif., before being fatally shot by sheriff’s deputies when he threatened them, the authorities said Wednesday.
Details about what happened and the relationships among those involved were still emerging on Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Ely, 81, who played the lead role in the 1960s television series “Tarzan,” was not among those who died at the residence. Valerie Lundeen Ely, 62, died from stab wounds inside the home in Hope Ranch, a suburb of Santa Barbara, that she had shared with her husband, Mr. Ely, 81.
On Tuesday at 8:15 p.m., a man called 911 to report a family disturbance at a home in Hope Ranch, a suburb of Santa Barbara, according to a statement by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. A local realtor confirmed that the home belonged to Mr. Ely. Sheriff’s deputies, who received a call at 8:15 p.m. Tuesday about a family disturbance at the home, found the body and identified the couple’s son, Cameron Ely, 30, as the suspect in the killing, the sheriff’s office said.
Upon arrival, officers found the body of a woman who had been killed, the authorities said. A disabled man whose name was not released was taken to a hospital, the sheriff’s office said. They searched the property and found him outside the home, where, they said, he “posed a threat.” In response, four deputies shot at him, fatally wounding him, according to the sheriff’s office.
Investigators encountered the suspect on the property, and when they tried to arrest him he threatened them, the authorities said. Sheriff deputies then fatally shot him.
The deputies, who were not injured during the confrontation, “will be placed on paid administrative leave” as part of standard procedure, officials said.The deputies, who were not injured during the confrontation, “will be placed on paid administrative leave” as part of standard procedure, officials said.
Mr. Ely is best known for playing Tarzan in the television series from 1966 to 1968. He also acted in other television shows, including “The Aquanauts” and, later, “Fantasy Island.” The senior Mr. Ely was taken to a hospital, the authorities said. A spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office said that he was alive, but declined to comment on his condition.
Details about what led to Ms. Ely’s killing were sparse, and investigations into the deaths are continuing, the sheriff’s office said.
Neighbors and friends were startled by the developments.
“The whole family is lovely,” said Kris Johnston, a family friend and real estate broker who had worked with the family to try to sell the sprawling five-bedroom home where mother and son were killed on Tuesday. “I’m in shock,” she said.
Ron Ely is best known for playing Tarzan in the television series from 1966 to 1968. He also acted in other television shows, including “The Aquanauts” and, later, “Fantasy Island.”
In 2014 Mr. Ely told The Fresno Bee that he had taken a break of more than a decade from acting to spend time raising his family. He returned to television that year to play an Amish elder in the Lifetime movie “Expecting Amish.” He said in the same interview that he had become so associated with the Tarzan role that he had to go to Europe to find work.In 2014 Mr. Ely told The Fresno Bee that he had taken a break of more than a decade from acting to spend time raising his family. He returned to television that year to play an Amish elder in the Lifetime movie “Expecting Amish.” He said in the same interview that he had become so associated with the Tarzan role that he had to go to Europe to find work.
The sheriff’s office said it would release more information later on Wednesday.
Laura M. Holson and Julia Jacobs contributed reporting, and Alain Delaquérière contributed research.Laura M. Holson and Julia Jacobs contributed reporting, and Alain Delaquérière contributed research.