Riverside Police Department Press Release

Officer Involved Shooting

Riverside, Ca-  On Tuesday, January 28, 2003 at approximately 12:05am, two Riverside Police Officers conducted a vehicle traffic stop on Indiana Ave. west of Bernard St. As the officers approached the vehicle on foot, the driver sped away. After a short pursuit, the vehicle came to rest near the corner of Indiana Ave. and Vance St. The driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot. During the foot pursuit, the suspect went into a backyard of a near-by residence and attempted to enter a rear door. The suspect was unable to gain entry into the residence and the officers continued to pursue the suspect on foot. As the pursuit continued, the suspect turned his body toward the officers and pointed a handgun in their direction. Both officers fired their handguns at the suspect. The suspect was struck, fell to the ground, and dropped the handgun. The officers immediately requested medical aid for the suspect. The suspect was treated at the scene by medical personnel, transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

The suspect has been identified as a white male adult, 37 years of age, with a last known address in the City of Norco. The identity of the suspect will be released by the Riverside County Sheriff Coroner’s office upon the completion of their investigation.

The Riverside Police Officers involved in the shooting are Officer Jose Loera and Officer Ryan Wilson. Officer Jose Loera has been a Police Officer with the City of Riverside for eight years. Officer Ryan Wilson has been a Police Officer with the City of Riverside for three months. Both officers have been placed on paid administrative leave, which is a routine procedure for officer involved shootings.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Detective Keith Kensinger with the Riverside Police Department at (909) 320-8034.