A California sheriff's office detective was fatally shot Thursday while serving an eviction notice in the city of Porterville, about 55 miles north of Bakersfield. 

According to an ABC News affiliate, Tulare County Sheriff Detective Randy Hoppert accompanied deputies to serve the eviction notice Thursday morning when shots were fired. 

The suspect, who authorities identified as 59-year-old David Morales, barricaded himself inside the home. He was believed to be armed with a high-powered rifle and exchanged fire with the officers. 

Officers initiated a tactical rescue to retrieve Hoppert, who was taken to the hospital, where he later died. 

At the end of the standoff, which lasted several hours, Morales was killed after being run over by an armored vehicle. 

Morales had no prior convictions and his motives aren't clear. Hoppert leaves behind a wife, who is four months pregnant.