Riverside Police Department Press Release

Riverside Man Shot After Pointing Gun at Police
 

Riverside, Ca-  On Thursday July 31, 2003 at about 6:03 A.M. two Riverside Police officers who are members of the Parole and Corrections Team (PACT) attempted to contact a man who appeared to be agitated at a woman he was with. The officers, one of whom is a Sergeant, believed the couple might have been involved in a domestic violence incident.

The man, later identified as 35 year-old Ronald McKinnon, fled on foot from the officers and did not comply with multiple commands to stop. One officer chased McKinnon on foot as the other officer chased him in his police car. While running through an alley near Dwight Street, McKinnon pointed a handgun at the officer. The officer feared for his safety and fired his handgun at McKinnon. McKinnon was not struck and continued to run away.

McKinnon pointed the gun at the officer a second time near the intersection of 7th and Dwight Streets. The officer fired his handgun at McKinnon again. McKinnon was struck one time in his right leg. He fell to the ground and was taken into custody. The officers immediately requested medical aid. McKinnon was transported to Riverside Community Hospital where he was treated for a non-life threatening gunshot wound to his leg.

Investigators recovered a semi-automatic handgun at the scene. They interviewed several civilian witnesses, one of whom saw McKinnon point a handgun at the officer. The residential areas between University Avenue and 7th Street, and between Douglas and Dwight Streets were shut down while investigators processed the crime scene.

McKinnon was booked into the jail ward at Riverside County Regional Medical Center for Assault With a Deadly Weapon on a Police Officer, Ex-Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Resisting and Obstructing an Officer. McKinnon is a known gang member who had been discharged from parole.

The officer who fired his weapon was placed on Paid Administrative Leave pursuant to Department Policy. No officers or civilians were injured during this incident.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is urged to contact Detective Rowe at 909-320-8024 or Detective Smith at 909-320-8062.