Skip to main content
Tuesday, November 10, 2026Nov 10

Police: Man in gunbattle preferred death to prison

By TRACIE CONE and GARANCE BURKE

Associated Press Writers

FRESNO, Calif. – The California man who authorities say killed one law enforcement officer and wounded two others in a gun fight at his mobile home was a paranoid private security guard who kept a gun collection and told his wife he would rather die than go to prison.

Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer identified Rick “Ricky” Ray Liles, 51, on Friday as the shooter and said he had been taking medication for depression and likely took his own life with a gunshot to his head during the Thursday shootout.

“He made a statement that he would not go to prison. Before going, he would take the lives of several officers before taking his own life,” Dyer said.