(SACRAMENTO, C.A.) — Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper is urging California lawmakers to strengthen the state's domestic violence laws following a deputy-involved shooting on July 5 on Interstate 80 that stemmed from what authorities describe as a three-day domestic violence assault.
Speaking on Instagram, Cooper said California should classify felony domestic violence as a violent felony for sentencing purposes, arguing that offenders who commit severe acts of abuse should serve longer prison terms and be ineligible for certain early-release credits.
(Credit: Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper Instagram post.)
"I've been in law enforcement for more than 35 years," Cooper said. "Today we've come full circle where many laws in California regarding domestic violence are not treated as serious felonies."
According to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded at approximately 10 a.m. on July 5 after receiving multiple 911 calls reporting a battered and bloodied woman screaming for help in the 2200 block of Zinfandel Drive in Rancho Cordova. As the woman went door-to-door seeking assistance, one resident allowed her inside to wait for deputies.
Investigators said the victim reported surviving three days of brutal abuse at the hands of her ex-husband. She told deputies she had been beaten, pistol-whipped, and strangled until she lost consciousness. After another assault that Sunday morning, the victim said she "played dead" until the suspect left the room, allowing her to escape and seek help.
The victim told deputies the suspect was armed with a pistol and was likely still at the residence where the assaults occurred. When deputies arrived, the suspect had already fled in the victim's vehicle. A regional "Be On the Lookout" alert was issued, and North Patrol deputies later located the vehicle near Fair Oaks Boulevard and Kenneth Avenue.
(Credit: Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office Instagram post.)
Authorities said the suspect fled when deputies attempted a traffic stop, leading to a pursuit that continued onto eastbound Interstate 80. The pursuit ended just west of the Antelope Road exit, where deputies shot the suspect after, Cooper said, he pointed a firearm at responding deputies. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene by the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District. No deputies were injured.
The Sacramento County Coroner's Office identified the man as William M. Kreuzer, 38, of Rancho Cordova. According to the Coroner's Office, Kreuzer died on July 5.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the deputy-involved shooting because it occurred on a state highway.
Cooper said the case underscores what he views as shortcomings in California's sentencing laws.
"The difference is, if a crime is considered a violent felony, you're not eligible for early release," Cooper said. "If you beat your spouse or cohabitant, in most cases you're eligible to get out of jail early. I would argue if you inflict that amount of injury or pain on somebody, you should spend more time in jail."
Current California law makes corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant a felony in many cases. However, felony convictions under California Penal Code Section 273.5 generally are not included on the state's statutory list of violent felonies, a legal distinction that can affect sentencing enhancements and eligibility for certain custody credits. Other domestic violence-related crimes, including attempted murder and some offenses involving great bodily injury, may qualify as violent felonies depending on the charges filed.
Cooper's comments come as California lawmakers continue debating whether penalties for repeat domestic violence offenders should be strengthened.
Assembly Bill 292, introduced by Assembly Members Joe Patterson and Juan Alanis, originally proposed classifying felony domestic violence under Penal Code Section 273.5 as a violent felony—the same policy change Cooper called for in his Instagram post. However, subsequent amendments removed that proposal. The current version of the bill instead focuses on increasing prison terms, fines and probation requirements for repeat felony domestic violence offenders without changing the offense's classification under California law.
Cooper also referenced another recent domestic violence case (directly below) that he described as one of the most disturbing investigations of his career:
According to a June 19 California Highway Patrol news release, CHP dispatchers received multiple reports of a male subject assaulting a female along the right shoulder of southbound State Route 99 south of Dillard Road. When a CHP officer responded and contacted the parties, the suspect assaulted the officer during the investigation and was ultimately taken into custody.
(Image of Ricardo Gonzalez Gurrola, 32.)
Authorities identified the suspect as Ricardo Gonzalez Gurrola, 32. The California Highway Patrol said he was taken into custody on suspicion of multiple felony offenses, including attempted murder, domestic violence resulting in injury, aggravated mayhem, assaulting a peace officer, resisting arrest and attempting to take a firearm from a peace officer. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The Sacramento County District Attorney's Office confirmed prosecutors filed the initial criminal complaint against Gurrola on June 23 and an amended complaint on July 8. He is currently charged with attempted murder, domestic violence, aggravated mayhem, assault with a deadly weapon, battery and resisting an officer. Gurrola is scheduled to be arraigned on the amended complaint on July 30 in Department 60.
Cooper said the victim survived despite life-altering injuries. He further stated that when Gurrola was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail, deputies discovered the victim's eyeballs in his pocket.
As the father of four daughters, Cooper said domestic violence remains one of the issues that concern him most.
"As a father of four daughters, this concerns me. Any father or mother out there with young daughters, this is an issue. It is prevalent in our society."
Cooper urged lawmakers to revisit California's sentencing laws.
"We've got to change that law here in California," Cooper said. "If you commit a crime where you're battering a woman, you should be held accountable and spend more time in jail."
Cooper said the two recent cases illustrate a broader pattern rather than isolated incidents.
"These are two cases of many cases that go on daily," he said. "The numbers are there. Let's fix it."
The suspect in this story is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If you’d like to add or correct anything in this report, feel free to reach out to me or leave a comment below. Submit Sacramento County tips and story ideas to Sarah Denos at sarahkdenos@gmail.com.
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