Sonoma County’s top prosecutor has ruled that a Santa Rosa SWAT officer was legally justified when he shot and killed 20-year-old Matteo Ramirez-Santos after an hours-long standoff at a Keegan Drive home last August. The district attorney found that the officer reasonably believed he was facing an imminent threat when Ramirez-Santos stepped out of the house armed and moved toward officers. That decision closes the criminal probe even as internal reviews at the department level continue.
DA: Deadly Force Met Legal Standard
The Sonoma County District Attorney's office concluded that Officer Sean Keaney "reasonably believed deadly force was necessary to defend against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury," and therefore the shooting was lawful. "We share our deepest sympathies with the families affected by this tragic incident," District Attorney John Cregan said, according to The Press Democrat.
How The Keegan Drive Standoff Unfolded
Officers say they were called to the 900 block of Keegan Drive around 10:12 PM on Aug. 13, 2025, after a woman reported she had been assaulted while holding her two-month-old child. Negotiators and SWAT officers spent more than six hours trying to get Ramirez-Santos to surrender. Deputies say chemical agents were used shortly before he ran past the open front door, fired at officers and then charged toward them, at which point Keaney fired one round that struck him, according to CBS Bay Area.
Alleged History Of Violence And Open Warrants
Authorities said Ramirez-Santos had outstanding felony warrants, including allegations tied to weapons possession, and was wanted on multiple domestic-violence and related counts stemming from earlier incidents involving the same woman. Investigators also cited social-media posts and texts in which he threatened violence during the standoff, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Parallel Investigations And Body-Camera Review
The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office led the criminal investigation and turned its findings over to the DA, while the Santa Rosa Police Department has launched an internal administrative review. Officer Keaney was placed on paid administrative leave, and officials said body-worn camera footage will be released after the ongoing probes conclude, as reported by SFGATE.
What The DA’s Ruling Actually Does
The DA's decision ends the possibility of criminal charges in the case, but it does not replace departmental review or rule out civil lawsuits by relatives or other parties. That split between no criminal filing and still-open administrative and civil avenues is common in officer-involved shootings, according to The Press Democrat.
For background on the original incident, see Hoodline coverage of the Keegan Drive standoff. The DA's ruling is the latest official word in a case that has been under scrutiny since the August shooting.
