A 44-year-old Eastvale man who was shot during a gunfight with deputies while barricaded in his house with family members must stand trial for attempted murder of a peace officer and multiple other charges, a judge ruled Thursday.
Jose Alfredo Gonzalez was arrested last November following the confrontation with a phalanx of law enforcement officers in the 14000 block of Alpaca Court, near River Road.
At the end of a preliminary hearing, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Matthew Perantoni ruled there was sufficient evidence to warrant a trial on six counts of attempted murder of a peace officer, three counts each of child endangerment and possession of an assault rifle, two counts of making terrorist threats, and one count each of spousal abuse, firearm assault, false imprisonment and being in possession of large capacity magazines without a license.
The judge scheduled a post-preliminary hearing arraignment for Oct. 18 at the Riverside Hall of Justice and ordered that Gonzalez remain held without bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.
According to sheriff’s Sgt. Deanna Pecoraro, deputies were called to the Alpaca Court residence about 3 a.m. on Nov. 14 to investigate reports of a domestic disturbance. When deputies approached the two-story house, they encountered Gonzalez, allegedly armed with a rifle and threatening to shoot, Pecoraro said.
The deputies retreated and summoned assistance, at which point “the suspect shot multiple rounds at the deputies from the interior of the home,” the sergeant said. “The deputies took cover behind their vehicles, and the suspect continued to shoot. At this time, a deputy-involved shooting occurred.”
Another emergency request for backup was broadcast, and at that point, officers from the Chino, Corona, Riverside and Ontario police departments converged on the location and surrounded the home.
Armored vehicles retrieved the deputies who had taken cover behind their patrol cars and carried them to a safer location.
“Information was received that juveniles were in the home where the suspect was firing,” Pecoraro said. “As an armored vehicle was approaching the residence to safely remove the juveniles, (Gonzalez) appeared in the doorway, and a second deputy-involved shooting occurred.”
The defendant surrendered and was taken to Riverside Community Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening wounds. He was in the jail infirmary for a week.
The three youths allegedly held captive inside the home were not hurt. Their identities were not disclosed.
No deputies were injured either.
A family dispute evidently led to the defendant’s actions, but authorities did not disclose any further details.
Gonzalez has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.