Police: Mark Ruffalo's Brother Died Of Self-Inflicted "Russian Roulette" Gunshot

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."

Comments

[Yovovi]

This isn't funny, it's incredibly sad and tragic. Clearly, he was sick and needed help.

[djkrlsn]

Playing Russian Roulette is not sad/tragic--it is TREMENDOUSLY STUPID

[suemag]

Stupid is as stupid does.

[mapleaforever]

Was he preparing for an audition to a remake of "Deer Hunter". Is Christopher Walken busy?

[jambazi]

does Mark Ruffalo's brother have a name of his own ? how bout a picture?? and the last sentence.." Mark Ruffalo has starred in...bla bla " WTF ??

[PuddinPie]

Thank you. Or, his name IS Mark Ruffalo's Brother. It's Hollywood you know.

[Bitsko]

Guns don't kill people. It's those little bullets that do.

[HARVIN]

"I was nowhere near the guy." Phil Spector

[brooklyncitizen]

Sigh..Guns and drugs more American than apple pie and the flag.

[UnknownSoldier]

With police work like this no wonder OJ got off

[UnknownSoldier]

Keystone cops, who could someone be under arrest and in jail for murder whent he victim shot himself in the head.

CSI my AZZZ

[Womanvoter4Obama]

I'm so sorry for Mark and his family.

[kellygrrrl]

I'm going to take a big leap here and guess that maybe some dr ugs involved here.

Condolences to the family.

[djkrlsn]

or a very popular drug (namely ethanol/booze)

[max]

thank you for playing

[Zeebob]

see you next time.... or not.

And the gene pool gets stronger yet again.

[getoffthecross]

"The cuticle of common sense that had protected him over the years from his own worst tendencies had worn away, leaving him increasingly vulverable to obsessions."

"You get what everyone gets. You get a lifetime."

[Anastasia]

Who is the author of that marvelous line?

[getoffthecross]

The second is a line from "Death: The High Cost of Living" by Neil Gaiman.

Sadly, I don't know the author of the first. I read an article about Anderson Cooper's brother, who also took his own life. The quote was from an uncredited manuscript found on his bedside table. I've never forgetten it.

[SouthernYankeeBelle]

Yes it is. Another line my father-in-law use to say before he died of cancer (10 yrs). Every morning you get up from bed and put your feet on the ground and stand up and move is a good day. You betcha.

[Topfeeder]

Condolences to the family.

[moonflowerjewelry]

heartfelt compassion for his family. why is this news? why is it on huffington post?

[Merckx]

Because it resolves an open case. Huffpo readers had been under the impression this was a murder.

[thefooligan5]

Because Mark Ruffalo is famous.