San Rafael Man Shot By Police Dies

NORTH BAY, CA – A man who was shot by Petaluma police after a nearly two-hour-long standoff Tuesday has died from his injuries, authorities said.

Luis Alberto Garcia-Vara, 24, of San Rafael, died Wednesday night, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office. He had been hospitalized since the officer-involved shooting.

The suspect was shot after he allegedly pointed a gun at police not long after pointing it at himself during the standoff, which stemmed from a domestic dispute, according to the sheriff's office.

Sheriff's officials said Petaluma officers fired 16 shots at the suspect, with at least one striking the suspect in the abdomen. Petaluma police detectives interviewed a witness who said they saw the suspect raise the gun toward officers.

All five officers involved in the shooting had their body cameras on when the shooting occurred.

The call started when officers reported to a domestic dispute around noon Tuesday at an apartment complex in the 100 block of Lakeville Circle in Petaluma, police said.

According to police, someone told them that the suspect was making suicidal threats and may have a gun. Several officers responded and tried to negotiate with the suspect. Others officers evacuated residents from nearby apartments.

Police said the suspect threatened to shoot himself in the head after they arrived. Officers continued to negotiate with the man, but around 1:50 p.m., the suspect checked the gun, appeared to reload it and pointed it at the officers.

Police said officers then fired at the suspect and injured him. No officers were injured.

The incident remains under investigation.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office at 707-565-2185.

By Bay City News Service; Kristina Houck/Patch contributed to this report.

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