Multiple RPD Officers Come Under Fire From Armed Gunman. Suspect Shot.
Written by Trevor Montgomery
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On Saturday, October 31, as many as six different officers from the Riverside Police Department came under fire from an armed gunman in the area of Fourteenth Street, in the city of Riverside.
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The incident began at about 4:31 a.m. when two Riverside Police Department patrol officers were conducting a traffic stop in the area of Fourteenth Street and Howard Avenue. During the course of that traffic stop, the officers heard gunshots being fired from a very close location in their area. Not knowing if they were the subjects being fired at, on-scene officers requested additional officers to the area.
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As additional responding officers arrived in the area of Fourteenth Street and Forrest Street, they immediately came under fire by a suspect armed with a handgun. Officers put out an emergency call for assistance, (11-99), and requested all available additional units to their location. As the call for help was broadcast, numerous additional Riverside Police officers began responding to the area.
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In the area of Howard Avenue and Cottage Street, two additional uniformed officers who were responding to the emergency call for assistance, also came under fire from the armed gunman.
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Those two officers engaged the armed suspect at which time a gunbattle ensued. The suspect was hit one or more times by rounds fired by the two responding officers engaged in the gunfight.
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After being hit by gunfire, the suspect was taken into custody. Officers on scene immediately requested medical personnel to respond to the location to tend to the suspect’s injury(s). After being treated by emergency first responders, the suspect was transported to a local hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
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Detectives from the Robbery/Homicide Unit responded to the scene and the investigation is ongoing. They were assisted by technicians from the department’s Forensic Unit and representatives from the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.
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The suspect in the shooting has been identified as 37-year-old, Riverside resident, Roberto Jimenes, who is recovering from his injuries at a local hospital.
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According to Riverside Police Chief Sergio Diaz, no officers were injured during the shooting incident and the suspect’s handgun was located at the scene. Both officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave per department policy.
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“It’s still unclear whether the injured suspect fired the initial shots which alerted police,” Diaz said. “There was reportedly gun play in the area before officers got there, we’re still trying to sort all that out,” Diaz said.
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The Riverside Police Department stated this is an active and ongoing investigation and no further details will be released at this time. The department encourages anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Detective Rick Wheeler at 951-353-7134 or Detective Rick Cobb at 951-353-7135. Callers can remain anonymous.
