East Bay Deputy Cleared In Fatal Shooting Of Irish Mafia Member

MARTINEZ, CA — A Contra Costa County Sheriff's deputy has been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing in the fatal 2018 shooting of an East Bay man who was a known gang member with ties to Family Affiliated Irish Mafia, or FAIM, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office said Monday.

"Following an extensive investigation and review, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office concludes Sheriff Deputy Matthew Gauthier lawfully shot and killed Discovery Bay resident Paul Ridgeway in 2018," Scott Alonso, spokesperson for the Contra Costa County DA's Office, said in a news release.

No charges will be filed against Gauthier in Ridgeway's death and the DA's Office has concluded its criminal investigation, Alonso said.

The DA's Office released a 33-page report on the fatal officer-involved shooting.

According to the report, around 9:30 a.m. Dec. 5, Gauthier finished a call for service and was on patrol in an unincorporated area of Martinez near Adelaide Drive and Pacheco Boulevard. The deputy was in a marked police car and saw Ridgeway outside a residence.

Gauthier was familiar with Ridgeway, as Ridgeway had an outstanding arrest warrant and was a known gang member with ties to Family Affiliated Irish Mafia, or FAIM, Alonso said.

According to the report by the DA's Office, Gauthier drove past Ridgeway on Adelaide and turned onto Pacheco to park his car out of sight of Ridgeway. Gauthier then walked back to Adelaide Drive with the intent to take Ridgeway into custody on the outstanding warrant.

When Ridgeway noticed Gauthier, he ran away from the deputy, the report states. Gauthier ran after Ridgeway and tackled him to the ground as he caught up with him.

"Once on the ground, Ridgeway violently resisted the deputy, which resulted in him drawing his duty firearm to defend himself," the DA's Office states in the report. "While still on the ground, Ridgeway pulled out his own firearm, a Daewoo 9mm semi-automatic pistol, and fired one round at Deputy Gauthier, barely missing his face."

After the near-miss, Gauthier got up on one knee and fired his gun twice at Ridgeway. Seeing that Ridgeway still had a gun, Gauthier stood up and continued to fire at him.

In total, Ridgeway was hit by gunfire eight times and died at the scene.

The DA’s Office investigates all officer-involved shootings in Contra Costa County to independently decide whether there is proof beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime was committed during a fatal encounter with law enforcement, Alonso said.

The deputy was not injured but a bullet from Ridgeway's gun "grazed past the deputy's face," according to the DA's Office report.

The full report on the fatal shooting of Ridgeway can be viewed here.

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