RivCo Officer Hit By Shrapnel During Gunfire While Responding To Disturbance

RIVERSIDE, CA — A disturbance near downtown Riverside escalated into a physical struggle between a suspect and police officers Wednesday evening, ending with a gun discharging and an officer suffering a non-life-threatening injury, authorities said.

The possible officer-involved shooting occurred shortly before 7 p.m. in the area of University and Kansas avenues, according to the Riverside Police Department. Officers had responded to reports of a man behaving erratically and vandalizing parked vehicles, witnesses told police.

Agency spokesman Officer Ryan Railsback said officers located the man a short time after responding to the disturbance. When two officers attempted to make contact, a struggle ensued.

“A gun did discharge,” Railsback said. “An officer was struck by shrapnel. We’re still trying to sort out how it happened.”

Railsback said an officer sustained a minor injury during the encounter and was transported to Riverside Community Hospital for treatment. The officer has since been released and is now resting at home while recovering, Railsback told Patch.

The suspect, whose identity was not released, was detained shortly after the gun discharged and later booked into the Robert Presley Jail on suspicion of unspecified offenses. The suspect was not injured, and no bystanders were harmed.

Witnesses staying at a hotel across the street told The Press-Enterprise they saw a man jumping on cars along University Avenue and later heard what sounded like a gunshot.

“He started running down the middle (of the street), screaming and yelling and stuff and then about five minutes later we heard a gunshot,” Susan Waller told The Press-Enterprise. “Next thing I know, there was police everywhere.”

Multiple police units responded to the scene, and University Avenue was closed in all directions between Kansas and Ottawa avenues for several hours.

The Riverside Police Department warned residents Wednesday night to expect a significant police presence in the area but said there was no ongoing threat to the public.

“There is no active threat to the public,” police said.

Railsback said further details would not be released until the investigation is complete.

City News Service contributed to this report.