Los Angeles- A woman in custody in connection with the death of actor Mark Ruffalo’s brother has been released, it was reported today.
Shaha Mishaal Adham, 26, who had surrendered to police just hours before
39-year-old Scott Ruffalo [pictured right] died on Monday night, had been booked on a no-bail arrest warrant for attempted murder in connection with the shooting.
But according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department’s Web site,
Adham was released about 11:15 p.m. Tuesday.
She has been cleared of wrongdoing in Ruffalo’s death, according to the
celebrity news Web site TMZ.com.
There was no immediate comment from the Beverly Hills Police Department.
Adham’s reported boyfriend, Brian Burton Scofield, 29, who had been
wanted as a person of interest in the case, was booked for a misdemeanor
traffic warrant on Monday, with bail set at $2,500 bail. He is scheduled to
appear in court on Feb. 6, according to the Sheriff Department’s Web site.
Ruffalo was found with a gunshot wound to the back of his head about
1:30 a.m. Dec. 1 in his apartment in the 400 block of North Palm Drive, police
said.
Adham told police she went to Ruffalo’s apartment to pick up her Land
Rover, which Ruffalo had borrowed, and saw Ruffalo shoot himself in the head during a game of Russian Roulette. She then fled and called Scofield, who dialed 911, according to TMZ.com.
The Web site also reported that there was another person in the apartment who has not been identified.
Lt. Tony Lee of the Beverly Hills Police Department said Tuesday
afternoon that he could not directly comment on the TMZ.com report regarding the Russian roulette claim.
“Our detectives are not releasing any information since it’s an ongoing
investigation,” Lee said.
Adham’s lawyer, Ronald Neil Richards of Beverly Hills, could not be
reached for comment. But a person speaking on his behalf said he had been
retained to represent Adham, who had been scheduled to be arraigned today at the Beverly Hills courthouse.
Ruffalo died at 10:11 p.m. Monday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He
worked as a hair stylist in Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. His mother, two
sisters and wife Luzelena are also licensed hair stylists.
His 41-year-old brother, Mark, has appeared in such films as “13 Going
on 30,” “Zodiac,” “Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind” and “You Can
Count on Me.”
The actor’s publicist released a statement Tuesday saying he and his
family “deeply appreciate the outpouring of prayers and support during the
most difficult time of the passing of Scott Ruffalo, beloved son, brother and husband. The funeral service will be private.”