The California grandfather arrested on suspicion of murdering a home burglar has been released pending an investigation into the fatal shooting..
DailyMail.com obtained the mugshot of Gregory Ravara, who was booked into the Alameda County Jail on Monday. The 77-year-old grandfather looked impassive and unshaven as he wore a blue jail jumpsuit after spending four days locked up.
Ravara was not identified by Oakland police during a news conference Wednesday.
But officials said witnesses saw two men and a woman break into the shooter’s home at 98th Avenue and Burr Street in East Oakland shortly before 6 p.m. on July 10.
At least one of the would-be robbers was armed with a crowbar, according to Acting Deputy Chief Frederick Shavies.
Gregory Ravara, 77, was booked on murder charges at Alameda County’s Santa Rita Jail and was released Thursday.
Ravara’s East Oakland home where fatal shooting occurred
The homeowner confronted the suspects when one of them tried to scale the back fence, Shavies said.
When police arrived at the East Oakland home, the vigilante grandfather was still pointing his gun at a female suspect, while another man in his 40s lay wounded on the ground just inside a back fence.
The woman told police the homeowner shot her friend, according to court documents. A firearm was recovered from the home.
Oakland firefighters and paramedics attempted to save the suspect, but he died at the scene.
During a news conference Wednesday, Oakland Police Department Acting Deputy Chief Frederick Shavies said at least one of the would-be robbers was armed with a crowbar.
Shavies said the owner was detained because he did not provide an immediate statement to police.
“In the absence of any kind of statement, if ‘A’ shoots ‘B’ without an explanation, we can only use what we have,” Shavies said. “All we know is that one individual lost his life.”
The third robbery suspect, a 31-year-old man, fled the home but was arrested by police a few blocks away, according to court documents.
The Alameda County Coroner’s Office did not release the name of the suspect who was fatally shot and referred the case to Oakland Police.
The 77-year-old grandfather appears to have no criminal record. In images on his social media, Ravara could be seen enjoying trips with his family.
Ravara is a grandfather and long-time Bay Area resident.
In one of his posts, a smiling Ravara commented: “One day at a time, another sunrise to enjoy, make today as if there is no tomorrow.”
On Wednesday, Shavies said the case was turned over to Alameda County Prosecutor Pamela Price for consideration. As of Friday afternoon, the progressive prosecutor had yet to file charges against Ravara.
Under California’s ‘Castle Doctrine’ law, a homeowner can use force against intruders who try to break in.
Former Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley told DailyMail.com that prosecutors must weigh several factors — whether the intruder was entering the property or leaving — when Ravara pulled the trigger.
“You have to look at whether there are any facts that support that a reasonable man exercised his right to self-defense or defense of a third party,” Cooley said. ‘That said, in Alameda County, who knows? It’s a strange place.
‘They have a radical district attorney, with a leftist ideology. And like other radical prosecutors George Soros has elected, they don’t seem to care much about the law.’