Man shot by police had made waves 'trolling' protests
Ricardo Ruiz threatened police with lethal force and fired a gun during a recent confrontation, according to court papers.
A man who threatened to shoot Berkeley police during a domestic violence investigation earlier this month has now been charged with 17 felonies, according to police and court papers.
Police shot the man during a standoff at his apartment building April 13.
Until this week, the man was recovering at Highland Hospital. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail on Tuesday and his name became public.
Ricardo Ruiz, 33, had recently made headlines after disrupting multiple Berkeley protests, reportedly pepper-spraying someone in February and brandishing a stun gun at another in March.
Ruiz has attempted to make a name for himself by documenting his activities on social media using the handle DJ Occult.
"I'm shooting indiscriminately"
According to charging papers, Berkeley police were dispatched to a domestic violence report at 6:50 a.m. Sunday, April 13, in an apartment building at McGee and University avenues.
A witness said he could hear a woman in distress, police wrote.
"There's a female yelling, 'forgive me' and 'I'm sorry,' with a male yelling … as well," a dispatcher advised police.
Police responded "Code 3" to the scene after a witness heard a woman being choked and saying, "I can't breathe."
When officers got to the door at about 7 a.m., they tried to make contact with the apartment occupants, but there was no response.
A few minutes later, police wrote, Ruiz opened his front door and threatened to shoot officers.
Police took cover and tried to negotiate with Ruiz to de-escalate the situation for several minutes, according to BPD.
"Ruiz had cameras affixed above his front door and told Officers he was 'watching them.' When a BPD Sergeant went on the roof to disable the cameras, Ruiz threatened to shoot the Officers on the roof," BPD wrote.
Police said they could hear Ruiz rack a shotgun. He continued to refuse to come outside, according to police.
About 12 minutes into negotiations, Ruiz shouted out spontaneously that he would "use lethal force," police wrote.
"I'm shooting indiscriminately … towards anybody who tries to cross into my personal barrier," he said, according to charging papers.
Officers heard the sound of gunfire at the same time, police wrote.
According to police, Ruiz came outside at 7:25 a.m. and "pointed a black assault rifle style weapon" at officers, saying, "I will shoot."
"This is my only warning," he told police before going back inside and closing his security door, BPD wrote.
As police continued trying to speak with him, Ruiz kept making threats, saying he would "shoot on sight" if anyone came inside, according to charging papers.
Just after 7:40 a.m., when he opened the door and pointed a firearm at officers again, police shot him, according to charging papers.
Ruiz was taken to Highland Hospital for medical treatment.
That day, BPD also spoke with a woman who had been inside the apartment with Ruiz and determined she was safe, authorities said.
During a subsequent search of the apartment, police found a 12-gauge shotgun "with the safety switch in the 'fire' position," police wrote. "This shotgun was loaded with 'slug' ammunition … most commonly used for hunting large game."
Officers also found an AEA HP SS pellet gun with a tactical light. According to police, a warning on the website for the weapon "states that the gun should not be pointed at anyone and can cause serious injury or death."
Detectives also found metal bullet fragments inside and outside the residence, consistent with officers hearing gunfire during the confrontation, according to charging papers.
"This further indicates that Ruiz fired at Officers when he opened his screen door and pointed the gun at Officers," BPD wrote.
Ricardo Ruiz in March. BPD
Police also wrote that Ruiz has an "extensive criminal history with numerous prior arrests" related to domestic violence, assault on a peace officer, illegal gun possession, weapon brandishing and DUI.
Ruiz also has two convictions for assaulting a peace officer, BPD wrote.
He is "also the restrained party in a served civil harassment order which prohibits him from possessing, purchasing, or receiving any firearms, firearm parts, or ammunition," police wrote.
The Alameda County district attorney's office has charged Ruiz with assault on a peace officer, 12 counts of exhibiting a firearm in the presence of an officer and four counts of unlawful firearm activity, according to court records.
He has also been charged, separately, with exhibiting a deadly weapon at a Berkeley protest March 22, according to court papers.
He is scheduled for arraignment Thursday at Wiley Manuel Courthouse. No bail amount is listed in booking records online.
In a statement this week, Berkeley police said more details would be released in the coming weeks in a "critical incident video."
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