PICTURED: Oakland grandfather, 77, who is being probed for murder after ‘shooting dead burglar who broke into family’s home’
The California grandfather arrested on suspicion of murdering a robber has been released from jail pending an investigation into the fatal shooting.
DailyMail.com has obtained the mugshot of Gregory Ravara, who was arrested Monday at the Alameda County Jail. The 77-year-old grandfather looked stony-faced and unshaven as he wore blue prison scrubs after spending four days in jail.
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 gunman’s home at 98th Avenue and Burr Street in East Oakland on July 10 shortly before 6 p.m.
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 into the Alameda County Santa Rita Jail for murder and released Thursday
The Ravara home in East Oakland, where the fatal shooting occurred
The homeowner confronted the suspects when one of them tried to climb his fence, Shavies said.
When police arrived at the East Oakland home, the vigilante grandpa was still pointing the gun at a female suspect while another man in his 40s lay wounded on the ground just inside a fence.
The woman told police the homeowner shot her friend, court documents show. A weapon was collected from the home.
Oakland firefighters and paramedics attempted to save the suspect, but he died at the scene.
At 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 homeowner was taken into custody for not immediately giving a statement to police.
“If there’s no explanation, if ‘A’ shoots ‘B’ without explanation, all we can do is go with what we have,” Shavies said. “All we know is that an individual lost his life.”
The third suspect in the burglary, a 31-year-old man, fled the home but was arrested by police a few blocks away, court documents show.
The Alameda County Coroner’s Bureau would not release the name of the suspect who was fatally shot and referred the case back to the Oakland Police Department.
The 77-year-old grandfather appears to have no criminal record. In photos on his social media, Ravara could be seen enjoying outings with his family.
Ravara is a grandfather and a longtime resident of the Bay Area
In one of his messages, a smiling Ravara noted, “One day at a time, another sunrise to enjoy, treat today as if there is no tomorrow.”
On Wednesday, Shavies said the case had been transferred to Alameda County DA Pamela Price for consideration. As of Friday afternoon, the progressive prosecutor had not yet filed charges against Ravara.
Under a California law called the “Castle Doctrine,” a homeowner may use force against intruders who attempt to enter.
Former Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley told DailyMail.com prosecutors had to weigh several factors — whether the intruder was entering the property or on his way out — when Ravara pulled the trigger.
“You have to look at whether or not there are facts that would support a reasonable person in exercising his right to self-defense or to defend a third party,” Cooley said. “That said, who knows in Alameda County? It’s a strange place.
“They have a radical, left-wing ideological prosecutor. And like other radical prosecutors elected by George Soros, the law doesn’t seem to matter much to them.”
