ELKHART, Ind. -- The Elkhart County Homicide Unit has completed its investigation into the officer-involved fatal shooting of seventeen-year-old Bryan Ramirez Gomez at High Dive Park pavilion on February 8, 2026. 

According to evidence, Elkhart Police Officer Ragsdale drove past the area of the High Dive Park pavilion about 1:30 a.m. on the morning of February 8, 2026, where they noticed a car running while parked. The park was closed at the time.

Officer Ragsdale observed several individuals in the car, some appearing to be minors, and called for back-up. While interviewing the occupants of the vehicle, and gathering necessary information, the officer smelled alcohol. After the arrival of Officer Breneman, they began removing the individuals from the car.

According to the evidence, the individual located on the front, passenger-side of the car was seen to lean down for something on the floor of the car, causing Officer Ragsdale to escalate his voice and draw his weapon. Ramirez Gomez then exited the vehicle and fired a weapon at Officer Breneman.

Both officers then returned fire, fatally shooting the individual, later identified as 17-year-old Bryan Ramirez Gomez, a student at Elkhart High School. A Glock 9mm handgun was on the ground near him. Other police officers began arriving less than a minute later to assist and secured the other individuals from the vehicle. Aid was rendered to Ramirez Gomez, who was then transported by medics to the hospital, where he was declared dead. 

Officers Breneman and Ragsdale were cooperative with the investigation and provided statements to detectives. Officer Breneman explained that he was alerted by Officer Ragsdale’s tone of voice and repeated commands which caused him to reposition himself where he could see the front seat passenger getting out of the car contrary to direction.

Officer Breneman stated that he observed the passenger raise a gun and fire, which caused him to return fire and move backward, falling. Upon seeing the passenger quickly get out of the car and hearing the passenger shoot, Officer Ragsdale then fired his own weapon until it malfunctioned. 

According to the investigation. the results of the forensic video analysis lined up with the officer's recollection of events. All shots appear to have been fired within approximately three seconds. One shell casing was found to be from the shooting victim's weapon, with the other casings matching the officer's weapons. The formal autopsy findings document the cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds.