Bodycam shows man armed with Machete and Knife shot by Greensboro cops

On June 30, 2023, at approximately 9:55 p.m., Greensboro Police officers were dispatched to the area of Creek Ridge Road and Randleman Road in Greensboro, after receiving multiple 911 calls regarding someone armed with a machete and a knife. Officers arrived in the area and encountered Ernesto Ruiz walking with a machete in one hand and a knife in the other. They ordered him to drop the weapons and Ruiz began to flee on foot, not complying with commands. Officers continued to give commands in English and in Spanish, using non-lethal options such as pepper spray, tasers, and foam rounds. Those attempts were ineffective and officers continued to follow Ruiz and issue commands for approximately 1 mile.

Officers realized they were approaching the intersection of Randleman and Creek Ridge roads, an area with several restaurants and convenience stores open to the public. As they approached Family Fare Convenience store and BP gas station at 2600 Randleman Road, multiple officers were in pursuit of Ruiz, who was still armed with the machete and knife. Residents were in the area as officers began to surround and contain Ruiz. Commands were given for him to drop the weapons. Ruiz moved toward officers with the machete raised in one hand in a threatening manner while still armed with a knife in his other hand. Ruiz moved toward officers in a threatening manner raising the machete with a knife in his other hand.

Officers Greene and Kirkland and Sgt. Muldowney, who were attempting to surround Ruiz to contain him, discharged their department-issued firearms, striking Ruiz multiple times. Officers handcuffed Ruiz and began life-saving measures. Ruiz was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. On June 30, 2023, Officers Greene and Kirkland and Sgt. Muldowney were placed on administrative duty while the SBI conducted its investigation and while awaiting the District Attorney's decision. On February 26, 2024, the District Attorney determined that the officers' actions were justified by both the common law principles of self-defense and also by the NC General Statute 15A-401 which permits the use of deadly force by a law enforcement officer to defend himself or another from what he reasonably believes to be the imminent use of deadly force.