Father of slain Riverside officer urges gunman to turn himself in

Officer Ryan Bonaminio

UPDATE: Reports: Man detained in Riverside in connection with killing of officer

Several news outlets are reporting that at least one person has been detained in the case. No information has been released on the identity of the person or persons who were brought into custody.

According to KTLA TV, Riverside police officials confirm the suspect, whose identity has yet to be released, was arrested at a Target store in the 300 block of Arlington Ave in Riverside.

Initial reports say the suspect and a woman were in the parking lot of the Riverside target store, working on their car.

Police officers surrounded the couple and arrested them both.

There are unconfirmed reports that the suspect was tracked by his cellphone.

The man fits the description of the suspect, according to KCAL.

According to KCAL, a man and woman were taken into custody from the parking lot and several witnesses told the television station officers swarmed the couple with guns drawn and quickly made the arrest.

ORIGINAL STORY

The father of the Riverside police officer killed after being shot during a struggle with a suspect urged the gunman to turn himself in and called his son Ryan Bonaminio “a great human being.”

“Just bring yourself in,” Joseph Bonaminio told reporters gathered during an afternoon news conference outside Riverside police headquarters.

“I just want this person to come forward and have his just due, and serve his punishment,” he said. “And those people out there, if you know this individual, just please have him come forward or let somebody know where he’s at. And let’s just put an end to this. I’m just looking for an end to this. That’s all.”

Bonaminio said there were two ways this man could be brought in: the inhuman way were he would be abused by his captors and the way his son would take him into custody.

“My son would bring you in,” he said. “He would have you incarcerated and let the justice system do its job.”

Bonaminio said there is a combination of emotions he and the slain officer’s family have gone through, including frustration that his son could survive two tours in Iraq and then be killed in his hometown while serving the community.

During the news conference, Chief Sergio Diaz provided new details about the investigation and the circumstances surrounding the killing, but admitted authorities have no idea where the suspect could be found.

Diaz said Bonaminio may have been shot by his own service gun during a struggle with the suspect and that the officer’s department-issued weapon has not been recovered. Authorities also said it is possible the suspect has the gun.

Detective Ron Sanfilippo said there were witnesses to the altercation and they have spoken to investigators. He said the interviews have helped investigators piece together what happened.

Bonaminio, a four-year Riverside police officer who also served two tours of duty with the Army in Iraq, was shot shortly after 9:45 p.m. Sunday at Fairmount Park, near the Moreno Valley (60) Freeway offramp to Market Street.

Bonaminio, 27, was declared dead at Riverside Community Hospital at 10:22 that night, according to the coroner’s office.

A makeshift memorial, including candles and miniature American flags, has sprung up near the entrance to the park.

The officer tried to pull over a big rig believed to have been involved in a hit-and-run crash near Market Street and the 60, police said. The driver of the stolen 18-wheeler failed to stop when Bonaminio signaled him to do so, and the officer followed the suspect to the entrance to the park, where he got out and ran.

Diaz said the officer chased the suspect and an altercation took place, just before Bonaminio was fatally shot. The suspect then got back into the stolen rig and drove back to the location where it had been originally stolen, Diaz said.

The rig has been processed by investigators, Diaz said, but none of the fingerprints taken from the vehicle have matched anything from databases used by law enforcement officials.

A reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer.

“There are people who know this person or recognize him,” Diaz said. “A reward of (this size) will loosen some tongues.”

The reward pot is comprised of the following:
– $100,000 from the governor’s office;
– $100,000 from the city of Riverside;
– $100,000 from Riverside County;
– $100,000 from the District Attorney’s Office;
– $25,000 from the Riverside Police Officers’ Association;
– $25,000 from the FBI;
– $25,000 from the U.S. Marshals Service;
– $10,000 from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; and
– $10,000 from the Morongo Band of Mission Indians.