Suspect Shot Himself After Firing At Fremont Cops: Police

FREMONT, CA – An Orinda man who shot at police, prompting them to return fire during a standoff in an alleyway behind a Fremont shopping center late Sunday night died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, police said today.

The Alameda County Sheriff's Office's coroner's bureau concluded an autopsy on Roger Perez, 24, of Orinda, and determined that he fatally shot himself after exchanging gunfire with Fremont police officers. Aside from the gunshot wound to the head, Perez did not sustain any other gunshot wounds to his body, Alameda County sheriff's officials revealed Tuesday.

A majority of the incident was captured on video by a camera attached to the officers' patrol vehicle, police said.

The names of the involved officers have not been released due to safety and security concerns, as detectives are investigating whether the suspect was tied to a known street gang, according to police.

The incident began late Sunday night, at 11:37 p.m. when an East Bay Regional Parks District police officer sent a request to Fremont police for assistance. Parks police told Fremont officers that they were
investigating a report of an armed man, police said.

Officers later learned that a victim had flagged down a Parks police officer and said that a man brandished gun at them while inside the 7-Eleven at 35015 Fremont Blvd.

The suspect, later identified as Perez, approached the victim and offered to sell them marijuana, however, the victim declined, according to police.

Moments later, Perez attempted to buy an alcoholic beverage at the store, but refused to show the clerk his ID. When the victim asked Perez to hurry his transaction, Perez allegedly lifted his shirt and revealed a
firearm tucked into his waistband, police said.

Perez then left the store and entered a parked vehicle.

The victim called 911 and then contacted the Parks police officer, who happened to be driving into the store's parking lot.

The Parks officer caught up with the vehicle Perez was in and stopped it. The officer then tried to detain all five people inside, according to police.

As Fremont police were arriving to assist the Parks officer, Perez allegedly then fled from the car and ran across Fremont Boulevard, into a shopping center.

Officers were able to detain the vehicle's remaining four occupants.

Fremont police officers then began searching for Perez and a witness directed them to the alleyway behind the shopping center, police said.

As officers arrived in their patrol car, they located Perez standing on top of a parked box style moving truck.

An officer began giving Perez commands and Perez initially appeared to be following the commands by standing up and raising his hands, according to police.

Perez, however, then quickly ducked down behind an elevated portion of the truck's cargo box, out of view of the officers.

Perez then suddenly reemerged and began shooting at officers. The officers returned fire and Perez again ducked down, out of the officers' view, police said.

Although officers were not certain if Perez had been struck by gunfire, they established a perimeter around the truck.

Because of the violent nature of the incident, as well as the fact that it was dark and that Perez was standing in an elevated position, officers called in the police department's SWAT team for assistance. Additionally, a California Highway Patrol helicopter also provided assistance.

Officers meanwhile attempted to contact Perez, but were unable to. The CHP air unit informed officers that Perez was not moving, according to police. The SWAT team then used a drone to gather information about
Perez's condition and to identify a safe approach.

Officers ultimately decided to approach Perez with medical personnel. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. A loaded firearm was found in Perez's hand.

Hours after the fatal incident, officers learned that police in neighboring Newark were investigating an attempted armed robbery that occurred just prior to the Fremont incident, according to police.

In that incident, Perez allegedly had confronted several patrons in the parking lot of a Newark bar. He allegedly made a comment to the victims about buying or selling drugs, before telling them he intended to
take their money.

Perez punched one of the victims and pointed a gun at another victim. Perez then fled in the same vehicle from which he initially ran from to avoid Fremont police, police said.

The Fremont Police Department is continuing to investigate the incident, including the source of the weapon that Perez had and how he obtained it.

The Alameda County District Attorney's Office is also conducting a separate, parallel investigation into the case, which marks the third fatal shooting incident involving Fremont officers this year.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Fremont Police Investigations Division at (510) 790-6900.

• ALSO SEE: Arrest In Fatal Shooting Of Union City Man In Newark; 2 Suspects Still Sought

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