Paso Robles police identify man they say Mason Lira killed

PASO ROBLES, Calif. (KION) The Paso Robles Police Department has identified a man who was killed near an Amtrak around the time they say Mason Lira opened fire at the police station.

At a news conference Thursday, police said the victim was a 59-year-old white man who may have been a transient, and now they say his name is James Watson.

Police said they are continuing to investigate Watson's murder, but believe Lira is the primary suspect because the gun used was linked to the shooting at the police station.

Early Wednesday morning, police say Lira went to the Paso Robles Police Department and opened fire. When other agencies responded to help, a San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's deputy was shot in the face. They believe Watson was killed around the time of the shooting and that it may be one of the first things Lira did.

Lira was killed in an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement Thursday afternoon.