The following is a press release issued by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:
On 09-18-2022 at 10:01 P.M. Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a report of subjects walking northbound on South Dora Street checking car doors in the 1600 block of South Dora Street in Ukiah, California.
The Deputies checked the area and were unable to locate the subjects. A short time later the Deputies heard Ukiah Police Officers being dispatched to the area of Beacon Lane and Rose Avenue in regard to shots being fired and subjects looking into cars.
The Deputies responded to the area and met with Ukiah Police Officers, who had a 16-year-old male detained.
The Deputies contacted two victims (32-year-old male and 33-year-old female) at the location.
Deputies learned the pair were at their residence when another adult female (37-year-old) at the residence advised her car had been broken into. The adult male reviewed his security cameras and observed two to three subjects entering his car, as well at the 37-year-old female’s car.
The adult male left the residence to attempt to locate the subjects. The adult male located two of the subjects in the area of Beacon Lane and Rose Avenue.
At that point, the adult male observed bright flashes and loud noises coming from where one of the subjects was standing. The adult male was unsure if the flashes were from fireworks or gunfire.
The adult male was able to catch a 16-year-old male and detain him until Ukiah Police Officers arrived. The Deputies arrived a short time later and began collecting evidence.
Deputies located an expended 9mm casing in the near the area of Beacon Lane and Rose Avenue .
The 16-year-old male was in possession of stolen property from the burglarized vehicles.
As the Deputies were continuing their investigation, they were advised of workers at the Hillside Health Clinic reporting a suspicious subject on the west side of the building.
Deputies responded to the area and located Gabriel Hailey-Ruiz hiding in a dumpster. The Deputies located a polymer 80, 9mm handgun in Hailey-Ruiz’ possession. The Deputies observed the high capacity magazine was loaded and inserted into the magazine well. The handgun was not registered and was illegal to possess.
Hailey-Ruiz was removed from the dumpster and placed under arrest for 182(a)(1) PC (Felony – Conspiracy to Commit Crime), 25850(C)(6) PC (Felony – Carry Loaded Handgun not Registered Owner), 25400(C)(4) PC (Felony – Carry Concealed Weapon Prohibited Class/Unlawful Possession), 246.3(a) PC (Felony – Discharge of Firearm Grossly Negligent Manner) and 32310 PC (Felony – Possess Large Capacity Magazine).
The 16-year-old male was arrested for 496(a) PC (Misdemeanor – Receive Posses Stolen Property) and 182(a)(1) PC (Felony – Conspiracy to Commit Crime).
The 16-year-old male was transported to Juvenile Hall, while Hailey-Ruiz was booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be held in lieu of $15,000.00 bail.
Attempted murder?