Crime
Gunman Identified in Fatal Shootout That Killed Marysville Police Officer Osmar Rodarte
OLIVEHURST, CA – Authorities have identified the gunman who was killed in a shootout that also claimed the life of a Marysville police officer during the execution of a search warrant.
The Yuba County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the suspect was 60-year-old Rick David Oliver of Olivehurst.
The deadly exchange of gunfire occurred on Wednesday morning when a SWAT team was serving a search warrant on Kestrel Court as part of a larger investigation into drug trafficking and firearm-related crimes.
During the operation, Officer Osmar Rodarte, 25, was fatally shot. Law enforcement officers returned fire, killing Oliver at the scene, according to officials.
The Yuba County District Attorney’s Office stated that due to the complexity of the case, it may take months before further details regarding the shootout are released.
Rodarte’s death has deeply impacted the Marysville community, prompting an outpouring of support for the Marysville Police Department.
On Thursday, a law enforcement procession escorted Rodarte’s body to Placer County for an autopsy. Community members lined the streets to pay tribute to the fallen officer.
Court records reveal that Oliver had an extensive criminal history. In the past year, he had pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, resulting in the victim becoming pregnant.
Although the crime was not committed by force, Yuba County District Attorney Pat McGrath noted that Oliver was facing a recommended sentence of four years and four months in state prison.
Oliver had been scheduled for sentencing on August 15 but failed to appear in court. He had previously sought probation, but authorities issued an arrest warrant after his absence.
Law enforcement, with the assistance of the FBI and a bail bond agency, located and arrested Oliver in Douglas County, Nevada, on February 17.
Oliver was subsequently arraigned in Yuba County Superior Court, and further legal proceedings were scheduled for Friday, during which a sentencing date may have been set.
Due to his failure to appear in court, Oliver was facing an increased potential sentence of up to eight years.
Because of the severity of his conviction, Oliver was required to serve his sentence in a state prison rather than a county facility under California’s prison realignment laws.
His criminal record also included prior convictions for drug possession and driving under the influence.
The investigation into the events leading up to the fatal shootout remains ongoing.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.