DA's office details an officer-involved shooting in Soledad.

The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office released preliminary information regarding an officer-involved shooting that resulted in the hospitalization of 20-year-old Rudy Rosas of Soledad.

Just before 1am on Dec. 16, Monterey County Sheriff’s deputies Carlos Pina and Blain Councilman were dispatched to a report of a suspicious vehicle driving through a residential area at 32097 McCoy Road in Soledad.

A resident at the farm labor camp reported the individual had a handgun and that his white, four-door Honda sedan was parked in space 18 at the complex. Before parking, the suspect drove around the area, stopped in front of the reporting party’s truck and got out.

Pina arrived just after 1:20am. His dashcam shows him driving down a narrow dirt driveway in the dark, according to the press release. Patrol lights illuminate Rosas standing next to a white Honda parked in a space directly facing the approaching patrol vehicle. As Pina drove within about 10 feet of the car, Rosas got behind the wheel. Before doing so, the buttstock of a rifle is briefly visible, held in Rosas’ hand and pointing downward, with the rest of the weapon behind the Honda’s open door.

The sequence occurred over approximately seven seconds, from the moment Rosas was illuminated to when he was seated inside the vehicle.

As Rosas sat in the Honda with the driver’s door still open, Pina exited his patrol vehicle and stood between the open driver’s door and the A-pillar.

The interaction that resulted in the shooting unfolded over a matter of seconds. 

Rosas raised the firearm with both hands and manipulated it, lowering and again raising it, according to the DA's office. The rear half is visible through the windshield of his car as he positions it over his left shoulder pointing it in a forward direction, according to the release. 

Pina fires three rounds in about one second through the Honda’s windshield, striking Rosas in the head. No other shots were fired. 

Medics arrived on scene about 12 minutes later, transporting Rosas to Natividad Medical Center. Rosas is currently in critical condition.

Investigators located a short barrel AR-15 assault rifle without serial numbers between the front seats of the Honda. There were two rounds in the magazine. Rosas reportedly carried a black semi-automatic handgun found concealed in his vest with three rounds in the handgun.

District attorney investigators interviewed Pina on Dec. 18. He is a SWAT team member and a certified instructor in use of force, rifle and defensive tactics, as well as an AR-15 armorer with expertise in the weapon’s design, maintenance and use.

According to the press release, Pina knew the reporting party reported the suspect was armed. 

In the past, he contacted gang members with guns at that complex, including one who fired a gun into the air which resulted in a pursuit. He did not see the rifle before Rosas got into the Honda, according to the release. When Rosas was behind the wheel, Pina yelled, “Raise your hands!” Pina had his gun drawn and pointed at Rosas. 

The DA's office release stated Rosas ignored this command, instead raising what Pina recognized as an AR-15 rifle. 

The investigation is ongoing. After today, the DA’s office stated it will have no further comment until the investigation concludes.