Sonoma County Sheriff investigating officer-involved shooting in Rohnert Park
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ROHNERT PARK // The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office has announced the release of preliminary details regarding an investigation into an officer-involved shooting, in which a 21-year-old man attempted suicide-by-cop outside the Rohnert Park Public Safety Building.
Just before 11 PM on January 14th, Sergeant Kelly Koffler and several other Public Safety Officers heard what appeared to be gunshots fired right outside the building. Koffler went outside to investigate and encountered 21-year-old Antonio Ramirez Frati, who was holding a gun in one hand and a bottle of beer in the other.
After calling for backup, Koffler tried talking to Frati — ordering him multiple times to drop the gun. Frati refused each time, demanding that Koffler shoot him.
Several officers responded and took up various positions at the scene. In the interest of public safety, surrounding roads were closed and a crisis negotiator was called in. What followed was an hour-long standoff fraught with unsuccessful attempts to get the gun away from Frati, who became increasingly agitated that police wouldn’t shoot him. Frati reportedly became so upset that he asked officers outright what it would take to get them to fire their weapons.
During negotiations, officials were also in contact with Frati’s mother, who told them he suffered from depression.
Frati then began walking towards Koffler with the gun still in his hand, repeatedly asking to be shot. Koffler continued to try and reason with him, but he continued to advance. Once he was about 15 yards away, Koffler began fearing for his own safety and, along with four other officers, fired his weapon.
Frati was struck three times, falling to the ground and losing his gun. When he tried to get back up, Koffler saw he was no longer armed and ran over to provide first aid. An ambulance which had already been staged arrived quickly and took Frati to a local hospital. He is expected to survive his injuries.
At press time, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office reports that 11 shots had been fired collectively by the officers. Frati’s gun was identified as a .22 caliber semiautomatic pistol. Three spent .22 caliber casings were also found outside the Public Safety Building where Frati allegedly fired the initial rounds.
Follow-up interviews with friends and relatives confirmed that Frati suffered from depression, but it remains unclear what could have prompted him to attempt suicide in such a way. At this time, the investigation is ongoing.
