Tribal leaders on the Soboba Indian Reservation say they are ``deeply troubled'' by the actions of five Riverside County sheriff's deputies after a shootout killed a tribal member who had reportedly fired an assault rifle, it was reported today.

The sheriff's office today released a few more details about the incident late Wednesday night, when two groups of deputies exchanged multiple gunshots with three persons firing from two different directions, using what deputies described as assault rifles.

Eli Morillo, 26, of San Jacinto, was pronounced dead at 1:08 a.m. Thursday on the Soboba Indian Reservation, sheriff-coroner's officials said.

That would be almost one hour after gunfire was first reported in canyons east
of the tribe's casino near San Jacinto, 24 miles southeast of Riverside.

The gun battle early Thursday is being investigated by the sheriff's Central Homicide Unit. Federal assistance in the investigation has not been requested, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said today.

``We have not been asked for assistance at this time,'' Eimiller said. ``The sheriff's department has jurisdiction at this time.''

The FBI investigates felonies on Indian reservations, and the Wednesday night gunfire happened near the reservation boundaries.

Sheriff's Sgt. Dean Spivacke said the five sheriff's deputies, in two
groups, exchanged gunfire with at least three armed men near an isolated section of Indian Reservation east of San Jacinto. Morillo was shot multiple times near Soboba Road and Castile Canyon, according to media reports today.

Gunfire was reportedly coming at the two groups of deputies from two directions, lawmen said. Bloodhounds were used Thursday to search for the suspects in what deputies said may have been a crossfire involving three men armed with at least two assault rifles.

Soboba's Tribal Council released a statement Friday that questioned the shooting.

According to published reports the statement was quoted as:

``As tribal leaders responsible for the welfare of our members, we are deeply troubled by the manner in which the Riverside County Sheriff's Department conducted themselves in response to this past Thursday's event.

``We are actively pursuing all possible means to ensure that a comprehensive review of their policies and behavior is scrupulously examined.''

A spokesman for the Soboba Tribal Council could not be reached for comment today. Tribal security officials declined to comment.

The American Civil Liberties Union has said it is looking into the shootings, according to published reports.

Spivacke said investigators are still searching for two other men who were reportedly with Morillo, including one who they believe fired a weapon during the shootout before fleeing, it was reported.

The reservation was re-opened Friday to residents, who had initially been asked to stay indoors for about five hours following the gunfire at 12:15 a.m. Thursday.