Stockton Police Identified the man shot and killed during a standoff with authorities earlier this week.
Rico Ruiz-Altamirano, 33, died Tuesday after five officers fired their weapons at him when police say he pointed a gun “at an uninvolved citizen.”
The department has opened a “Multi-Agency Critical Incident Investigation,” describing the shooting as “officer-involved” police officials said.
Police have also since released additional details of what authorities say happened that morning.
The shooting occurred during a standoff between police and Ruiz-Altamirano Tuesday morning in the 3400 block of West Hammer Lane in north Stockton, officials say.
The preliminary investigation indicates that “a citizen” called the department just after 4 a.m. reporting that they had been threatened by someone with a handgun, police say. Shortly after, a man identified by police as “the suspect” called the department and said “he was armed with a firearm.”
“The suspect then showed an employee at a nearby store his gun and told the employee that he was going to take him hostage,” police said.
Officers dispatched to the scene saw man, later identified by police as Ruiz-Altamirano, outside wearing body armer and armed with a firearm, authorities said. Crisis negotiators then began trying to get him to put the gun down.
“At one point, the suspect took off his body armor and told officers to take his life while still holding onto the gun,” police officials say.
Five officers eventually fired their weapons at Ruiz-Altamirano when he allegedly pointed the gun “an uninvolved motorist” who drove into the parking lot while walking toward the vehicle.
“Officers attempted life-saving measures, but the man was pronounced deceased at the scene,” police officials said. “No officers or citizens were injured.”
A loaded 40-caliber handgun and body armor, police said.
Stockton Police say the investigation is ongoing and the department will be working in conjunction with the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigations, California Department of Justice and County Medical Examiner’s Office.
“All involved officers were placed on 4-day paid administrative leave,” police said, which is typical following a police-involved shooting.
Anyone with information about what happened is being asked to call the Stockton Police Department at (209) 937-8377.
