BAKERSFIELD — The Kern County Sheriff’s Office has identified the man killed by an off-duty deputy in a gun battle outside a pizza parlor as 36-year-old Cesar Sanchez Ruiz.
The shooting occurred Thursday evening after Ruiz had been driving erratically, lost a tire, and pulled into the parking lot of Tony’s Firehouse Grill and Pizza in Bakersfield, authorities said.
Employees Stopped Man From Entering Pizza Parlor
Ruiz drove to the rear of the business, where the car became disabled. He got out and tried to get into the back door of the restaurant, but employees inside held it closed, according to a sheriff’s office statement.
Ruiz then went to the front of the business and tried to break the window of a car. Several people were eating outside and they approached the man, who pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed it at them, according to the statement.
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Off-Duty Deputy Confronted Ruiz
An off-duty deputy who was at the business saw what was happening and confronted the man, leading to the gun battle. The man fell to the ground but still held the gun. The deputy shot him again and he died at the scene, authorities said.
Nobody else was injured.
A firearm was recovered from Ruiz.
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The deputy, whose name wasn’t released, has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation
Anyone with information about Ruiz or what happened at the pizza parlor is asked to contact the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, (661) 861-3110.
