California mountain lion attack victims identified

The two brothers who were attacked by a mountain lion in El Dorado County, leaving one of them dead on Saturday, have been identified.

The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office said 21-year-old Taylen Robert Claude Brooks of Mt. Aukum was killed and his 18-year-old brother Wyatt Brooks, also of Mt. Aukum was wounded in Georgetown, a remote part of the county, while collecting and gathering deer antlers.

Taylen Brooks died from his injuries. His younger brother survived the attack and called the sheriff's office.

Taylen Robert Claude Brooks, 21 and his brother 18-year-old Wyatt Brooks were attacked by a mountain lion on Saturday in El Dorado County.

This was the first fatal mountain lion attack in California in 20 years. The last fatal encounter was in 2004 in Orange County, according to a verified list kept by the Fish and Wildlife Department. 

Deputies arrived at around 1:30 p.m. to find the younger brother with facial injuries. Minutes later, they saw a crouched mountain lion next to the older brother on the ground, according to the statement.

The deputies fired their guns and scared off the big cat. 

The surviving brother "has undergone multiple surgeries for his injuries and is expected to make a full recovery," the sheriff's office said Sunday. "The family is grateful for the prayers and condolences from the community, however wishes for privacy in order to process this tragic event." 

The mountain lion was found and trapped by California Department of Fish and Wildlife wardens and then euthanized, officials said.