San Bernardino Shooting Results in Brother-In-Law's Arrest

SAN BERNARDINO – Police have arrested a suspect early Thursday morning who is believed to have shot his brother-in-law on the front porch of their apartment complex on Wednesday afternoon, which marks the 38th murder in the city this year.

Rafael Pinon Flores

Adan Ruiz, 26, was shot by his brother-in-law, Rafael Pinon Flores, 27, police said. The shooting took place shortly before 2 p.m. at an apartment complex on the 2300 block of North Mountain View Ave., but Flores wasn’t taken into custody until 5 a.m. on Thursday.

“There seems to have been some ongoing tension between the two for quite some time,” said Sgt. Gary Robertson, adding that an investigation led by Detective Brian Lewis is continuing to try and determine the motive.

Ruiz lived at the apartment complex with his wife and three small children while Flores resided nearby at the same complex with his father, mother, brother and sister, said Robertson.

Both families lived in this apartment complex on North Mountain

Flores was arrested when he returned to his apartment. Initially, he fled on foot, said Lt. Paul Williams, “prior to police arriving on the scene.” Police said he denied being the shooter, but the victim’s wife told police she witnessed the shooting, said Robertson, adding that other neighbors reportedly heard gunshots and watched as Flores left the area.

Paramedics pronounced Ruiz dead at the scene. Robertson said the suspect and victim had past altercations that might have led to the shooting. Robertson also said a handgun was recovered from the suspect. Police said the gun was loaded and contained the same type of ammunition used in the shooting. Flores was sent to the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.

Read More:

The Sun: San Bernardino man arrested in killing of brother-in-law

Press-Enterprise: Man slain, brother-in-law arrested