4 deputies deemed legally justified in fatal 2021 shooting of Menifee man in Victorville

Four San Bernardino County sheriff's SWAT deputies have been deemed legally justified in the fatal shooting of a Menifee man following a four-hour standoff in the garage of a Victorville home in 2021, prosecutors announced this week.

Albert Ruiz Perez Jr., 32, died following the Aug. 29, 2021 shooting in the 16500 block of Zenda Road, according to San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department officials.

A report published by the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office on Tuesday concluded that four deputies who fired their weapons at Perez acted reasonably and in accordance with state law.

The involved deputies were Cpl. Cory McCarthy, Deputy David Moore, Deputy Cristina Olivas and Deputy Andrew Pollick, according to the report. They were part of a Specialized Enforcement Division, which is the department's equivalent of a SWAT team.

The encounter began with a 911 call reporting Perez had displayed a gun to a woman during an argument at her home. The woman reported she managed to get away from Perez and lock him out of her house, but he refused to leave her garage.

Deputies assigned to the Victorville Police Department responded and encountered Perez in the garage, holding a handgun, the district attorney's office report said. As he continued refusing orders to surrender for hours, the Specialized Enforcement Division was summoned to take charge of the scene.

Attempts at negotiation continued until Perez ultimately placed his gun down and began walking toward deputies, appearing as if he was about to surrender.

But he stopped and took a step backward toward the gun, the report found. A deputy shot him with a less-lethal "blunt impact projectile."

"The BIP round was ineffective, and Perez immediately turned and bolted toward the gun," the report stated. Fearing Perez was re-arming himself and taking a position of cover behind a pool table, the deputies opened fire.

Based on the circumstances they were presented with, "The only reasonable conclusion for Corporal McCarthy, Deputy Moore, Deputy Olivas, and Deputy Pollick to reach was Perez intended to retrieve his weapon and start shooting at deputies," the report concluded. "Therefore, the decision by Corporal McCarthy, Deputy Moore, Deputy Olivas, and Deputy Pollick to use deadly force was justified."

Perez is survived by two daughters, according to family.

More: Menifee man shot, killed by sheriff's deputies in Victorville after standoff involving SWAT team

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Deputies found justified in deadly 2021 Victorville shooting