A recent domestic disturbance call in Berkeley escalated into an officer-involved shooting. The incident occurred on April 13 in an apartment on the 1900 block of McGee Avenue. Officers responded to a 911 call, in which a neighbor reported hearing a woman's screams and fearing an assault in progress. On arriving at the scene, law enforcement attempted to communicate with the individuals inside but were met with threats from the male occupant, who was later identified as 33-year-old Ricardo Ruiz. The tense standoff led to Ruiz brandishing what appeared to be a firearm, twice confronting police before an officer shot him, according to the Berkeley Police Department.
Ruiz threatened the approaching officers, announcing via security cameras that he could see them and was armed with a shotgun. At this point, officers disabled two exterior cameras to secure their approach. Unfortunately, during the heat of the incident, the body-worn camera of the officer who later discharged his weapon was inadvertently deactivated. Despite efforts by the department to recover potential footage from Axon, the camera's manufacturer, no additional data was available. Other officers on the scene had active cameras, but they did not capture Ruiz's final confrontation.
Upon being shot, Ruiz fell outside his apartment, where a woman, seemingly involved in the initial distress call, emerged and stayed beside him until officers could bring her to safety. Berkeley Police Department’s statement, relayed via their social media channels, detailed that trained SWAT medics rendered aid to Ruiz before he was transported to the hospital by the Berkeley Fire Department. Later, the suspect was released from the hospital and booked into the county jail.
Weapons were found at the scene, including a loaded shotgun with slugs and a high-powered air rifle. The Alameda County District Attorney's Office filed multiple felony charges against Ruiz, including assault on a peace officer and unlawful firearm activity, among others. The gravity of the case is reflected by the number of felony enhancements filed against him. The entire incident, marked with tension and life-threatening moments, has been the subject of an intense investigation by both the Berkeley Police Department’s Homicide Division and Internal Affairs, in consultation with the offices of the Alameda County District Attorney and the Attorney General.
