Monterey County DA Releases Preliminary Information Concerning an Officer Involved Shooting Incident that Occurred Outside of Soledad on December 16

 

SALINAS, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni on December 19 released preliminary

information concerning the officer involved shooting (OIS) which occurred at about 1:20 a.m. outside the city

of Soledad on December 16, 2025.

Just before 1:00 a.m., Monterey County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Pina, who has been a peace officer for 10 years

all with MCSO, and Deputy Blain Councilman, each in separate patrol cars, were dispatched to 32097 McCoy

Road. A resident at the farm labor camp reported a suspicious individual with a handgun whose white Honda 4

door sedan was parked in space 18 at the complex. Before parking there, the suspect drove around and around,

stopped in front of the reporting party’s (RP’s) truck, and got out. The RP could hear music.

Deputy Pina drove the lead patrol car and arrived just after 1:20 a.m. His dashcam video, which does not record

sound but which he installed on his own and at his own expense, depicts the following: He drove down a

narrow dirt driveway. It is dark. His patrol lighting equipment illuminates an individual standing next to a white

Honda parked in a space directly facing the deputy’s approaching patrol car. That person, Rudy Rosas, age 20

of Soledad, moves behind the open driver’s door of the Honda. As Deputy Pina pulls up to within 10 feet of the

car, Mr. Rosas, aware that a car approaches, decides to get behind the wheel of his car. Before he does so, the

buttstock of a rifle is visible for less than a second, held in Mr. Rosas right hand pointing down. Other than the

black buttstock, none of the rifle is visible because it is behind the Honda’s open door. Deputy Pina’s patrol car

stops an instant before the rifle buttstock is visible in the video. Seven seconds elapsed between the time Mr.

Rosas was first illuminated, and he seated himself in the Honda. As Mr. Rosas seats himself in the Honda with

his driver’s door still open, Deputy Pina sprang from his car and stood between his patrol car’s open driver’s

door and the A pillar (forward pillar supporting the roof adjacent to the windshield).

The following occurs within about 2 seconds: Mr. Rosas raises the firearm with both hands and manipulates it,

lowering and again raising it. Approximately the rear half is visible through the windshield of his car as he

positions it over his left shoulder pointing it in a forward direction. Deputy Pina fires three rounds through the

windshield of the Honda striking Mr. Rosas around his head. Deputy Pina fired all three shots within about 1

second. No other shots were fired. About 12 minutes later AMR medics arrived on scene. Mr. Rosas was

transported to NMC and is currently in critical condition.

Investigators located a short barrel AR-15 assault rifle without serial numbers between the front seats of the

Honda. There were three rounds in the clip. Mr. Rosas carried a black semi-automatic handgun found concealed

in his vest. There were two rounds in the clip.

DA Investigators interviewed Deputy Pina on December 18. He is a SWAT member and certified instructor in

use of force and rifle and defensive tactics. He is an AR-15 armorer, expert in the design, maintenance, repair,

build, and use of that weapon. He knew the RP reported the suspect was armed. In the past, he contacted gang

members with guns at that complex, including one who fired a gun into the air which resulted in a pursuit. He

did not see the rifle before Mr. Rosas got into the Honda. When Mr. Rosas was behind the wheel, Deputy Pina

yelled, “Raise your hands!” Deputy Pina had his gun drawn and pointed at Mr. Rosas. Rosas ignored this

command and instead with both hands raised what Deputy Pina recognized was an AR-15 rifle. Because of his

intimate familiarity with the lethality of this weapon, he knew its rounds could penetrate cars and houses. He

was in fear for his life, his partner’s life, and the lives of surrounding residents. He fired three rounds to

neutralize that threat.

DA Investigators interviewed Deputy Councilman on December 18. In his patrol car on the narrow dirt

driveway, he followed behind Deputy Pina about two car lengths. He saw Depute Pina exit his patrol car and

point his firearm at the white Honda. As he parked, he heard shots.

The OIS investigation is ongoing. After December 19, the district attorney’s office will have no further comment until

the conclusion of the investigation.

The dashcam video on a USB will be provided to credentialed media upon request who appear in person at the

district attorney’s office.