EspañolEsmeralda Aguilera Rangel Shot After Riverside County Deputies Responded to Call About Mental Health Crisis
MORENO VALLEY, CALIFORNIA (October 7, 2026) – A 32-year-old woman identified as Esmeralda Rangel was seriously injured in a Moreno Valley police shooting in the 1100 block of Villa Hermosa.
Riverside County officials are saying that the incident occurred around 4:20 PM on Friday, August 7. Deputies from the Moreno Valley Sheriff Station and a clinical therapist responded to a call about a person who was experiencing some type of mental health crisis.
That person allegedly was armed with some type of weapon before being shot by responding officers. Paramedics were called to the scene of the shooting to help Esmeralda Rangel.
She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was listed in critical condition. A full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Riverside County Police Shootings
California law places strict limits on when officers are allowed to use lethal force, particularly during mental health emergencies. Pursuant to California Penal Code Section 835a, lethal force “shall be exercised judiciously and with respect for human rights and dignity and for the sanctity of every human life. The Legislature further finds and declares that every person has a right to be free from excessive use of force by officers acting under color of law.” Courts will take into consideration various factors when evaluating whether or not any instance of force was excessive.
- Immediate Danger: They will consider whether or not the person who was shot posed any type of immediate danger.
- Alternatives: They will also take into consideration whether or not there were any available alternatives to the use of force in that encounter.
- De-escalation: Another important consideration is whether or not officers used de-escalation techniques.
- Protocols: Courts will also review whether or not officers followed all protocols related to dealing with any person who may be in the midst of a mental health crisis.
If a police officer fails to follow a safety rule compiled by their employer, this could serve as evidence of negligence. Consider, for example, Hayes v. County of San Diego. That case involved a man who expressed thoughts of self-harm and was fatally shot by law-enforcement officers while holding a large knife in his hand. Attorneys for his family argued that law-enforcement officers used poor tactical decisions that created a foreseeable hazard and resulted in the shooting.
Preventing Police Shootings and Seeking Responsibility
Many people are seriously injured or killed every year during encounters with law enforcement. A large number of these incidents involve people who are suffering from a serious mental health crisis. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, “Between 2015-2020, a quarter of all fatal police shootings involved someone with a mental illness.” Police departments should take a number of measures to prevent shootings.
- Officers should receive ample training on how to deal with any person who may be in the midst of a serious mental health crisis.
- Officers should coordinate carefully with clinicians and other mental health providers.
- Officers should avoid rushing into any encounter and be sure to give the person they are dealing with plenty of space.
Police shootings are often highly preventable. They tend to be the consequence of poor training or poor tactical decisions. Among other things, officers may begin shouting commands rapidly at the suspect involved. This can increase their sense that their own life is in serious danger. The family of any person killed in a police shooting is able to seek some measure of accountability through a constitutional claim.
Investigating Riverside County Police Shootings
We at the Carrillo Law Firm extend our best wishes to Esmeralda Rangel as she continues to recover. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There are so many important questions that have to be addressed. What is the civil rights record of all of the responding officers? Have they been the subject of excessive force claims in the past? Have these officers received adequate training on de-escalation techniques?
Do you need more information about a Riverside County police shooting? Our team of civil rights advocates is here to support you. We care deeply that victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any specific case, we may be able to help you. You’re always welcome to reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.
