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Attorney: Suspect in Ruffalo death cleared
2008-12-10
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - Police cleared a woman arrested in the shooting death of actor Mark Ruffalo's younger brother after being shown evidence that the wound was self-inflicted, the result of playing with a gun, her attorney said Wednesday. Police records confirmed that Shaha Mishaal Adham, 26, left the Beverly Hills jail, where she'd been held without bail since surrendering Monday afternoon on an attempted murder arrest warrant. Attorney Ronald Richards said he presented evidence to detectives during a five-hour meeting Tuesday night that proved Adham did not shoot Scott Ruffalo early Dec. 1. He said Ruffalo's gunshot wound to the head was self-inflicted -- that Adham was essentially a witness to a game of Russian Roulette. "This was an accidental shooting by someone that plays with guns," Richards said. He credited police with being "more than impartial with the facts." Richards said Adham, a friend of Scott Ruffalo's, had gone to the hairdresser's condo to retrieve keys to her sport utility vehicle, then fled the scene. "A series of wrong decisions starting with her not staying at the scene of the shooting caused an incredible chain reaction of stupidity and bad luck," Richards said. He said she received poor legal advice from other attorneys before her surrender. Richards said no charges would be pursued against Adham. A police sergeant said more information would be released Wednesday. Another man wanted for questioning, Brian B. Scofield, was released after turning himself in for questioning Monday. Scott Ruffalo, 39, died late Monday after being removed from life support at a Los Angeles hospital, police said Tuesday. His family thanked supporters and announced the creation of a fund in his honor. "Mark Ruffalo and his family deeply appreciate the outpouring of prayers and support during this most difficult time of the passing of Scott Ruffalo, beloved son, brother and husband," the statement read. The family said the funeral service would be private. Mark Ruffalo, 41, has appeared in films such as "Zodiac," "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," and this year's "Blindness."
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