Jaque Rabon, 23, Died in Officer-Involved Shooting in Riverside With San Bernardino Police Officers
RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA (January 27, 2026) – A 23-year-old man identified as Jaque Rabon has tragically died in a Riverside police shooting in a parking lot on Tyler Street.
Riverside County officials are saying that the shooting took place around 10:00 a.m. on Thursday. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department officers attempted to arrest Jaque Rabon.
He was allegedly wanted on a warrant. During his attempted arrest, an officer-involved shooting occurred.
Paramedics were called to the scene to help him. Sadly, Jaque Rabon was pronounced dead at the scene. The sheriff’s department has not offered any type of justification or explanation about why the shooting took place.
A full investigation into the shooting remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Riverside County Police Shootings
Police officers are given a great deal of discretion in how they perform their job duties. But at no point are they allowed to use excessive force. Pursuant to 42 U.S. Code § 1983, every person who, under the color of any statute, law or ordinance, causes a citizen of the United States to be deprived of their rights secured by the constitution, shall be liable to the injured party in an action at law. There are many ways that police officers may have acted negligently in a police shooting.
- De-escalation: Police officers may have failed to properly de-escalate an encounter.
- Identification: Police officers may have failed to properly identify themselves as law enforcement.
- Mental Health: Police officers may have failed to follow safety protocols related to suspects who may be in the midst of a mental health crisis.
- Policies: Police officers may have failed to follow department policies related to the use of force.
Courts in California will take into consideration a number of factors when determining whether any specific use of force was justified. For example, it matters what officers were doing in the lead-up to a fatal shooting. Even if an officer’s actions seemed justified in the moment, they may not have been justified given the totality of circumstances. The family of any person who died in a police shooting may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil action.
Steps to Take After Riverside County Police Shootings
Many people are killed or seriously injured every year during police encounters. According to the Law Enforcement Epidemiology Project, “In the U.S. during a given year, an estimated 1 million civilians experience police threat of or use of force resulting in a conservative estimate of 75,000 non-fatal injuries requiring hospital treatment and 600-1100 deaths.” Several steps should be taken after any police shooting.
- Body Camera Footage: All body cam footage from police officers involved should be collected and reviewed. Police officers in California are required to have their body cameras on when they’re interacting with the public.
- Eyewitnesses: Any person who may have witnessed the accident should be interviewed as soon as possible while their memories are still fresh.
- Medical Records: Medical records and autopsy reports related to the encounter should also be gathered. They can play a critical role in helping to determine what happened.
- Legal Review: The family of any person who died during a police encounter should seek an independent review of the incident with a team experienced in constitutional law.
Police shootings are often highly preventable. They tend to involve situations where officers are either unwilling or unable to de-escalate encounters. When police departments investigate the actions of their officers, they will nearly always find that those officers did not do anything wrong. This is why it is so important that these incidents are thoroughly investigated by an outside party.
Investigating Riverside Police Shootings
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jaque Rabon. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department needs to do the right thing and be transparent about what took place. Several questions remain unanswered. What were the circumstances leading up to the shooting? Did the officers involved have any civil rights complaints against them?
Do you need more information about a Riverside County police shooting? Our team of civil rights advocates is here for you. We are committed to helping victims of police brutality understand their rights and holding law enforcement accountable for their unconstitutional actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any particular incident, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
