FRESNO – Friday evening the  Fresno Police Department Dispatch received three different 911 calls at The Parkway Inn located at 959 North Parkway near Freeway 99, regarding a man threatening people and pointing a scope rifle at at least three different people in the parking lot, to include a child.

It was later determined that the suspect, a Hispanic male adult with a shaved head, wearing dark clothing was indiscriminately firing the weapon at windows of other rooms, cars and other objects within the parking lot area.  Patrol officers and special response team officers arrived within two minutes of the call. 

As officers  were parked and exiting their marked patrol vehicles in the western part of the motel parking lot, the suspect exited room 221 (bottom floor room)and began firing at Officer's with the scoped rifle. 

The officers immediately took cover and gave direction over the PA to the other occupants in the adjoining motel rooms to shelter in place and not to exit their rooms because they would be in the line of fire and potentially injured or killed. Officers were advised that this subject had brandished the scope rifle and a pistol at numerous subjects in the area earlier in the afternoon as well. 

Negotiators were called out and begin negotiating with the suspect for a peaceful surrender for over 1 hour and 20 minutes. As officers were behind cover, at least one patrol car was struck and officers could hear over 50 plus rounds being fired with a soft report from the rifle and could hear pinging  sounds from numerous objects in the parking lot area being struck. 

Officers were advised that a female was also in the room with the suspect and during negotiations it was discovered that the female was able to exit the hotel room and was hiding in the south east corner of the parking lot away from the room in fear of being shot by the suspect. 

Officers were able to observe the female hiding and were able to rescue her out of the field fire to a safe area away from the hotel through a hole in a fence. The female, was previously with the suspect.

During negotiations, the suspect threw a television out of the hotel window into the parking lot and then began breaking out other windows as well and continue to fire the long rifle with a scope indiscriminately for several hours.  During the shooting rampage, the suspect was screaming and barking like a dog.  It is unknown at this time if the suspect was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 

At one point the suspect exited his room and pointed the scoped rifle at an officer who fired twice at the suspect with a patrol rifle and missed both times.  Several minutes after the first rounds were fired at the suspect, the suspect retreated back into the hotel room and then came back out into the parking lot and pointed the scoped rifle at officers once again where two different officers fired one round each from their patrol rifles with one of the rounds striking the suspect.  After being struck in the parking lot outside of his room, the suspect dove back into the hotel room through the broken window that was smashed out with the television.

A rescue team of officers were sent into the room in to provide first aid and life-support to the suspect who had been struck.  The suspect was transported to CRMC by paramedics who were staged on scene standing by.  The suspect was pronounced deceased at CRMC after arriving at the hospital.

Fresno Police later learned that 10 minutes prior to the Parkway call, the suspect was involved in a domestic violence incident at 2746 E. Hammond where he used a rifle to break out a window in a child custody dispute with his estranged wife.

The suspect was determined to be Ruben Maya (37) of Fresno who had been arrested in the past for domestic violence as well as assault with a deadly weapon.  It is unknown if Maya was a validated gang member at this time.

Over 30 officers we're on scene, to include several SWAT team members, K9's, and Skywatch air support in an effort to contain the area block traffic and prevent vehicles and pedestrians from being in the line of fire from inside and outside of the motel area.

This is the 4th officer involved shooting for the Fresno Police Department for 2018 compared to 3 OIS's this same time last year. Independent Police Auditor John Gliatta responded and was on scene.  The scoped rifle and pistol were later found in Mata's hotel room determined to be pellet guns that were very realistic looking and appearing  to be actual firearms.

There was a significant amount of vehicle and pedestrian traffic in the vicinity and a full parking lot of cars at the hotel where the shooting took place. 

A criminal investigation, internal affairs investigation, civil liability investigation are being conducted.  Numerous victims and witnesses are still being interviewed.  Officers involved in the shooting were placed on paid administrative leave which is protocol for the department..