University Avenue and Douglas Avenue, Riverside: Officer Fires After Reporting a Thrown Rock and a Knife
RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA (November 8, 2026): A man believed to be in his 50s died after a Riverside police shooting around 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 8, 2026, near University and Douglas avenues, according to the Riverside Police Department. ABC7 and The Press-Enterprise reported the shooting, citing police.
According to the department, the officer broadcast that the man had thrown a rock at his patrol car and was armed with a knife. During the encounter, the officer fired and struck the man, Detective Steven Espinosa, a department spokesman, told The Press-Enterprise. A second officer arrived at some point during the confrontation, Espinosa said. The man was taken to a hospital, where he died. Police said a knife was recovered at the scene, ABC7 reported.
A father and daughter who told ABC7 they saw the entire encounter said the officer yelled at the man to stop walking away, and that at some point the man turned around and the officer fired several shots. The witnesses said they did not see a knife or any other weapon. On Monday, police did not describe the threat the officer perceived that led him to fire, The Press-Enterprise reported. Riverside patrol officers typically wear body-worn cameras, the newspaper reported.
The man has not been identified,; he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The department has not said how far the man was from the officer when shots were fired, what he was doing with the knife, how many shots were fired, whether less-lethal options were tried or when body camera video may be released. This is the department’s account, and the full sequence has not been independently reviewed. These are early accounts. Fault is determined by investigators and, in civil cases, by the courts, and initial findings sometimes change.
Liability for the Riverside Police Shooting
Under California Penal Code § 835a, a peace officer may use deadly force only when the officer reasonably believes, based on the totality of the circumstances, that it is necessary to defend against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officer or another person, or in narrow circumstances to stop a fleeing person. Under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a person whose constitutional rights are violated by someone acting under government authority may generally bring a civil claim, including for excessive force under the Fourth Amendment. In Hayes v. County of San Diego (2013), the California Supreme Court held that an officer’s conduct leading up to a shooting can be considered when deciding whether the use of deadly force was reasonable. Civil Code § 52.1, the Tom Bane Civil Rights Act, may also allow a claim when rights are interfered with by threats, intimidation or coercion.
- Walking away: The witnesses said the man was walking away when the officer told him to stop. Whether a person was moving away from or toward an officer is often central to whether a threat was imminent.
- The knife: Police said a knife was recovered; the witnesses said they did not see one. Where the knife was and whether the man held it toward anyone are facts body camera video may show.
- The rock and the patrol car: The officer reported that the man threw a rock at his car. Whether that created a threat of death or serious injury when shots were fired is a separate question.
- Pre-shooting tactics: Under Hayes, how the officer approached and whether de-escalation was feasible can be part of the review.
These are general principles of California and federal law, not conclusions about this shooting, which remains under investigation.
Steps to Take After a Riverside Police Shooting
Families often learn about a police shooting from the news before receiving official information. These steps can help:
- Contact the department: Ask the Riverside Police Department for the case number and the name of the investigator assigned, and how the family will be notified of findings.
- Ask about the coroner: The Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner can explain how the family can request the autopsy report and the death certificate once they are available.
- Preserve witness information: Write down the names and contact information of anyone who saw the encounter, and save any photos or videos taken by family or neighbors.
- Follow the video: Ask the department how and when body-worn camera video from the officers will be made available to the family and the public.
Legal deadlines and notice requirements apply after a crash, injury or death, and they vary with the facts of each case, the location and the parties involved, including any public agency. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights.
Investigating the Riverside Police Shooting
We at Carrazco Law, A.P.C., a personal injury and civil rights law firm in Irvine, California, extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the man who died near University and Douglas avenues. Important questions remain: Where was the knife, and was the man moving toward the officer or away from him when the shots were fired? And what will the body camera video show about the seconds before the officer fired?
If you or a loved one has been affected by a police or deputy shooting anywhere in California, our civil rights attorneys can help you understand your rights and legal options. Call us anytime at (800) 541-3244. Se Habla Español. Free consultation.
Published on November 9, 2026 by M.M., Carrazco Law, A.P.C. The incident described in this article occurred on November 8, 2026.
