HomeMy WebLinkAboutOIS2012-0007 Summary_Redacted S.A. 12-031
Investigator: BRETT ANDERSEN Approved By:
Date of Report: 04/02/2013 Date: 04/02/2013
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CASE NAME: LEON, IGNACIO JR.
CLASSIFICATION: OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING (NON-FATAL)
AGENCY: SANTA ANA POLICE DEPARTMENT
LOCATION: 506 EAST WASHINGTON AVENUE, SANTA ANA
Preliminary Investigation ...........................................................................................1
Initial Scene Investigation/Evidence Collection .........................................................2
Interviews ...................................................................................................................8
Summary of Events ....................................................................................................9
Evidence Analysis .......................................................................................................18
Background Information ............................................................................................19
PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION
On Sunday, December 16, 2012, at approximately 0107 hours, I was contacted by
Orange County District Attorney Supervising Investigator RON SEMAN regarding an officer
involved shooting which occurred at 506 East Washington Avenue in the city of Santa Ana.
SEMAN requested I respond to assist with the investigation.
At approximately 0207 hours, I arrived and met with investigators from the Orange
County District Attorney’s (OCDA) Office and the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD).
At approximately 0245 hours, SAPD Sergeant JAY MILLER conducted a briefing of the
known circumstances surrounding the incident for the personnel involved in the investigation.
ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
INVESTIGATIVE SUMMARY
S.A. 12-031
Investigator: BRETT ANDERSEN Approved By:
Date of Report: 04/02/2013 Date: 04/02/2013
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At the conclusion of the briefing, the following assignments were made:
BRETT ANDERSEN / LEO RODRIGUEZ (SAPD) – Case Investigators
MARK GUTIERREZ / DOMINGO CABRERA (SAPD) – Canvass / Officer Processing
TOM CONKLIN and ED WOOD / JIM GARCIA (SAPD) – Scene
PAUL CARVO / ANDY ALVAREZ (SAPD) – Canvass
FRANCISCO REYNOSO / GUSTAVO MOROYOQUI (SAPD) – Canvass
KORY DEGRAFFENREID / DEAN FULCHER (SAPD) – Hospital
The following personnel from the Orange County Crime Lab (OCCL) responded to
process the scene and collect evidence:
OMAR LAZO Senior Forensic Specialist
JENNIFER JARRETT Forensic Specialist
RYAN MCNAMARA Lead Forensic Specialist
FELICIA BURKE Forensic Specialist
The following case numbers were issued:
Santa Ana Police Department case CI 12-36993
Orange County Crime Lab case FR 12-58683
RODRIGUEZ provided me with the following items:
Santa Ana Police Department crime scene log
Santa Ana Police Department reports related to case CI 12-36993
Santa Ana Police Department audio green (channel 1 transmissions)
TINA PERIJA of the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) provided the following:
OCFA incident report 99834
INITIAL SCENE INVESTIGATION / EVIDENCE COLLECTION
The scene was described as follows: The weather was cold, wet and slightly windy. The
shooting incident occurred just before midnight. The scene was cordoned off with yellow crime
S.A. 12-031
Investigator: BRETT ANDERSEN Approved By:
Date of Report: 04/02/2013 Date: 04/02/2013
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scene tape. Uniformed Santa Ana Police Department personnel were station ed to prevent
access and preserve evidence within the scene. The exterior perimeter was cordoned off with
yellow crime scene tape. There was one functioning street light standard on the north curb line
just west of the residence on East Washington Avenue .
The shooting incident occurred in the southwest corner of the backyard of 506 East
Washington Avenue, Santa Ana. East Washington Avenue was an un -delineated east-west
residential street. The north and south curb line has a raised concrete curb and was populated
with mostly single story residences.
506 East Washington Avenue was a two story residence. The house color was green
with white trim. There was a white picket fence with a gate that opens and borders the front of
the house and the east perimeter of the residence. The numbers “506” in black were affixed to
the right side of the white door frame. The front of the residence faced north onto East
Washington Avenue. Red brick was below the wood siding running along the west side of the
house. There was a raised concrete porch, which leads to the front door of the house . There
was a motion sensor light on the west side of the residence, mounted in the middle, near the
pitch of the roof. There was a gray stamped concrete driveway that ran north and south, along
the west side of the residence.
There was a detached garage with a large entry door, which faced north. An unlocked
chain and pad lock were attached to the frame of the door. There was a cement walkway
leading south to the end of the garage and adjacent to the walkway was a red brick walkway
which led south to a cinder block wall.
S.A. 12-031
Investigator: BRETT ANDERSEN Approved By:
Date of Report: 04/02/2013 Date: 04/02/2013
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South of the detached garage was a detached plywood storage shed. The detached
shed had a corrugated plastic roof.
South of the storage shed was an open dirt area. Within the dirt area was a reclining
chair, a desk, several bicycles, two trees with heavy foliage near the corner of the yard,
miscellaneous furniture, a patio umbrella, and chopped wood.
There was a raised porch with stairs that lead to a second residence in the back and to
the rear of the front house. There was another entry door facing west with concrete steps and
a small window adjacent to the front door. A white refrigerator was partially blocking the
window. The front door faced south and there was a white metal security door attached to the
door.
The south perimeter of the residence was bordered by a commercial parking lot
belonging to the French Park Care Center, located at 600 East Washington Avenue. The east
perimeter was bordered by 508 and 510 East Washington Avenue which was a residential
duplex. The west perimeter was bordered by an apartment complex on North Lacy Street. The
apartment complex consisted of 1221, 1223, 1225, and 1227 North Lacy Street.
Further investigation revealed that the LEON was in the alcove are of 1221 – 1227 North
Lacy Street at the time of the shooting incident.
The alcove area of 1221-1227 North Lacy Street was enclosed by a wooden fence on the
east, that separated the alcove from the backyard of 506 East Washington Avenue, the garage
structure of 1221-1227 North Lacy Street on the north, a block wall that separated it from the
parking lot of 600 East Washington Avenue on the south, and a wooden fence on the west that
contained the trash dumpster for 1221-1227 North Lacy Street.
S.A. 12-031
Investigator: BRETT ANDERSEN Approved By:
Date of Report: 04/02/2013 Date: 04/02/2013
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When initially discovered, the alcove contained a large amount of trash and debris. The
debris included, tree branches, discarded alcohol containers, used condoms, old mattresses,
and other miscellaneous trash. At the east end of the alcove, against the wooden fence that
separated the alcove from the back yard of 506 East Washington Avenue, there was an
approximately three foot tall wooden saw horse type item against the fence. The saw horse
allowed the opportunity for a person to quickly climb up the block wall or wooden fence.
On December 19, 2012, SAPD detectives searched the alcove for any weapon(s) that
LEON may have hidden or dropped as he hid from and later advanced on GARCIA. No weapon
was found.
VEHICLES IN SCENE
The following vehicles were parked on the driveway of the residence:
Vehicle #1 – 2003 Ford Expedition, four door, black, The registered owner
was , Santa Ana, 92707. The vehicle was
facing south.
Vehicle #2 – 2000 Chevrolet extended cab, white, . The registered owner was
, Santa Ana, 92701. The vehicle
was facing south.
Vehicle #3 – 2002 Saturn, four door, white, The registered owner was
, Santa Ana, 92701. The vehicle was
facing south.
Vehicle #4 – 1991 panel pickup truck, two door, white, . The registered owner
was Orange, 92868. The vehicle was
facing south.
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Investigator: BRETT ANDERSEN Approved By:
Date of Report: 04/02/2013 Date: 04/02/2013
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Vehicle #5 – 2005 Kawasaki motorcycle, black, The registered owner was
Gardena, 90249. The
motorcycle was parked facing south on the driveway and east of the Ford Expedition.
Additional vehicles were located south of the perimeter cinder block wall of the
residence in the north parking lot of 600 East Washington Avenue.
Vehicle #1 - 2002 Saturn, four door, white, The registered owner was
, Santa Ana, 92701.
Vehicle #2 - 2005 Nissan Altima, four door, gray, . The registered owner was
Santa Ana, 92701.
Vehicle #3 - 1993 Ford pickup truck, two door, green, The registered owner
was Garden Grove,
92840.
Vehicle #4 - 2012 Nissan, four door, black, Sentra, . The registered owner was
, Yorba Linda, 92886.
Vehicle #5 - 1996 Jeep 4 x 4, four door, green, . The registered owner was
, Santa Ana, 92701.
Vehicle #6 – 1996 Nissan Quest, van, Gray, The registered owner was
, Santa Ana, 92701.
Parked west of the residence on East Washington on the south curb line and facing east,
were two Santa Ana Police Department police vehicles; Santa Ana Police Unit #820, California
license number 1363979, belonging to SAPD Officer DAVID GARCIA and directly behind this
vehicle was Santa Ana Police Unit #836, California license number 1363985, belonging to SAPD
Officer DANIEL ALCALA.
At approximately 0330 hours, Orange County Crime Lab (OCCL) personnel began
processing the scene.
S.A. 12-031
Investigator: BRETT ANDERSEN Approved By:
Date of Report: 04/02/2013 Date: 04/02/2013
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Evidence Collection
At approximately 0408 hours, OCCL Forensic Specialist HILARY PEPLOWSKI
photographed the officer involved in the shooting incident and c ollected the following under FR
12-58683:
Santa Ana Police Officer DAVID GARCIA #3231
Glock, Model 22, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, Serial Number: LGU499
One magazine from the pistol containing 12 rounds and 1 round from the chamber of
the pistol
Two additional magazines from magazine pouch each containing 15 rounds
GARCIA also carried a Taser X-26, Serial Number: X00-546327, with one Taser cartridge
(Photographed)
At approximately 0427 hours, PEPLOWSKI photographed and conducted a round count
on the following officer:
Santa Ana Police Officer DANIEL ALCALA #3226
Glock, Model 22, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, Serial Number: LGU505
One magazine from the pistol containing 15 rounds and 1 round from the chamber of
the pistol
Two additional magazines from the magazine pouch each containing 15 rounds
Taser X-26, Serial Number: X00-658005, with one Taser cartridge
At approximately 0525 hours, the following items of evidence were collected by OCCL
Forensic Scientists JENNIFER JARRETT and FELICIA BURKE from the backyard of 506 East
Washington Avenue. The items were collected under the following evidence marker (EM)
numbers:
EM#1 – One Smith & Wesson .40 caliber cartridge case
S.A. 12-031
Investigator: BRETT ANDERSEN Approved By:
Date of Report: 04/02/2013 Date: 04/02/2013
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EM#2 – Two Smith & Wesson .40 caliber cartridge cases
The scene continued to the parking lot of 600 East Washington Avenue (French Park
Care Center) and OCCL Forensic Scientists JENNIFER JARRETT and FELICIA BURKE collected the
items under the following evidence marker (EM) numbers:
EM#3 – Piece of torn black t-shirt
EM#4 – Jacketed bullet fragment with apparent blood
EM#5 – Piece of torn black t-shirt with apparent blood
Miscellaneous identification was found adjacent to EM#5 above. These items consisted
of the following:
work identification in the name of IGNACIO LEON JR.
Medical Marijuana photo card with picture of a Hispanic male subject
California State Benefits identification card with name of IGNACIO LEON JR.
There was an orange and white patrol trauma box (patrol kit) located just south of (EM)
3, 4, and 5.
On December 17, 2012, OCCL Lead Forensic Specialist ANDREW HAYES responded to
Western Medical Center – Santa Ana and collected a container that included bullet fragments
removed from LEON during surgery.
On December 20, 2012, OCCL Forensic Specialist LAURABETH CAMACHO photographed
the alcove at 1221-1227 North Lacy Street and its proximity to the backyard of 506 East
Washington Avenue.
INTERVIEWS
I conducted the following interviews:
DAVID GARCIA Police Officer
S.A. 12-031
Investigator: BRETT ANDERSEN Approved By:
Date of Report: 04/02/2013 Date: 04/02/2013
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DANIEL ALCALA Police Officer
KEN GABRIELSON Firefighter / Paramedic
Neighbor
Acquaintance of LEON
Investigator KORY DEGRAFFENREID conducted the following interviews:
Trauma Surgeon
Registered Nurse
Investigator PAUL CARVO conducted the following interviews:
Acquaintance of LEON
Acquaintance of LEON
Investigator PAUL CARVO conducted 12 canvass interviews.
Investigator FRANCISCO REYNOSO conducted 29 canvass interviews.
Investigator MARK GUTIERREZ conducted 8 canvass interviews.
SUMMARY OF EVENTS
During the course of this investigation, 58 interviews were conducted. After reviewing
witness statements, SAPD reports, SAPD radio transmissions, Orange County Crime Lab reports,
OCFA incident reports, crime scene photographs and other relevant reports and materials, the
following summary of events was developed as a result of this investigation:
On the afternoon of Saturday, December 15, 2012, IGNACIO LEON, his girlfriend
, and their 2 month old son arrived at LEON’s mother’s apartment at
506 East Washington Avenue, in the city of Santa Ana. Soon after, LEON ’s mother,
went out for the evening and returned at approximately 2200
S.A. 12-031
Investigator: BRETT ANDERSEN Approved By:
Date of Report: 04/02/2013 Date: 04/02/2013
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hours. was upset that LEON was not at the apartment when she got back. She was
aware that LEON had gone out with his brother, but didn’t know where.
At approximately 2300 hours, LEON arrived back at the apartment “drunk.” He and
argued over his inebriation, which escalated to the point that asked
two roommates, and , to escort LEON out of the apartment.
and had to use some force to keep LEON from going back into the
apartment, but they were able to get LEON down the stairs and away from the front door.
After LEON left, locked the apartment door so that LEON would not come
back.
At approximately 2343 hours,, a neighbor that resided at
Avenue, was in her residence when she heard a male and female arguing
outside of her residence. also heard a child with the adults.
heard a female yell in Spanish, “Shut-up, shut-up, it is better if you leave him.”
stepped out of her residence, onto her doorstep, and could still hear the arguing in Spanish, but
could not see anyone. went back into her residence and called the Santa Ana
Police Department to report the incident. called the non-emergency telephone
line at the Santa Ana Police Department and asked to remain anonymous, when the police
dispatcher asked for her name.
Shortly after LEON left the apartment, he returned home and wanted back inside.
When refused, LEON broke a window next to the door and fled. LEON was
last seen walking northbound on the driveway toward his vehicle.
S.A. 12-031
Investigator: BRETT ANDERSEN Approved By:
Date of Report: 04/02/2013 Date: 04/02/2013
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According to , a neighbor residing at , LEON quickly
walked northbound on the driveway toward the black car he had arrived in. LEON was carrying
something in his right hand that she described as black, and larger than a cellular telephone. As
LEON neared the vehicle at the north end of the driveway, he suddenly stopped walking, used
his left hand to lift up the front of his black t-shirt, then put the object he had in his right hand
into his front waistband. LEON turned and ran southbound on the driveway and into the
backyard behind 506 East Washington.
At approximately 2344 hours, SAPD Officers DANIEL ALCALA and DAVID GARCIA and
were dispatched to 506 East Washington Avenue in reference to call. SAPD
Dispatch broadcast the call as “927 – CP HEARS FEMS YELLING & ARGUING W/A MALE, ALSO
HEARS KIDS CRYING…ANONYMOUS S/S FEMALE.”
At approximately 2346 hours, GARCIA and ALCALA arrived at the location. GARCIA
observed a shirtless male, later identified as , standing in the open
doorway of 506 East Washington Avenue. Upon seeing the officers, went inside
the residence and closed the door. GARCIA and ALCALA contacted and his wife,
, and determined the disturbance was not in the front house.
While walking out of the residence, GARCIA saw LEON suddenly run southbound on the
driveway. As LEON ran, GARCIA noticed he was grabbing his waistband. Believing that LEON
was related to the call they were investigating, he yelled to ALCALA, “We have a runner!” Both
officers ran south on the driveway after LEON.
When ALCALA and GARCIA got to the backyard, they did not see LEON. Both officers
heard what sounded like footsteps hitting the ground, as though someone had jumped down
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Investigator: BRETT ANDERSEN Approved By:
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off a wall. ALCALA and GARCIA believed it to be LEON, so GARCIA maintained a position at the
south wall of the backyard and ALCALA ran back toward East Washington Avenue, and then
west to North Lacy Street, in an effort to cut off LEON’s escape route.
While ALCALA was looking for LEON on North Lacy Street, GARCIA heard movement on
the other side of a wooden fence, at the southwest corner of the yard, and believed it was
LEON. At this point, GARCIA and ALCALA no longer had visual contact with each other.
GARCIA climbed on top of a white table, next to the south wall, and was able to see
south over the wall and into the parking lot on the other side. GARCIA did not see LEON in the
parking lot, so GARCIA thought the noise he heard may have come from within the alcove to
the west. From his position standing on the table, GARCIA climbed on top of a washer and
dryer that were up against the south wall and a west wooden fence. The washer/dryer units
were draped with a sheet of plastic, which made for an unstable platform for GARCIA to s tand
on.
Not knowing why LEON ran from the Police, or what his possible involvement in the call
of “females arguing with a male and children crying” may have been, and for officer safety
reasons, GARCIA held his handgun in his right hand and his flashlight in his left hand. GARCIA
stood on top of the washer/dryer units and began to look west into the alcove. As GARCIA
cleared the alcove, he observed LEON crouched down, approximately 4 feet from the west
wooden fence that separated the two properties. LEON had a dark jacket covering him, with
his right hand concealed in the front of his waistband. GARCIA described LEON as staring south
at the block wall and “he had a blank stare, uh like deer in the headlight type of thing stare.”
GARCIA immediately ordered LEON, “Let me see your hands, Santa Ana Police, don’t move!”
S.A. 12-031
Investigator: BRETT ANDERSEN Approved By:
Date of Report: 04/02/2013 Date: 04/02/2013
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LEON didn’t respond or acknowledge GARCIA’s verbal commands. GARICA repeated his
command for LEON to show his hands. GARCIA stated that, “At this time it clicks, I guess it
clicked on him that I was there, he looks up at me and he goes “fuck you, I’m going to kill you!”
LEON began to quickly climb out of the alcove and advance toward GARCIA. As he did this,
LEON continually tugged at the front of his waistband with his right hand.
GARCIA told LEON several times not to move and to show his hands . At this point,
GARCIA noticed ALCALA was west of them on North Lacy Street. GARCIA continued to yell
commands at LEON, loud enough so that ALCALA would know where GARCIA was and alert him
to LEON’s aggressive behavior.
According to ALCALA, as he progressed south on North Lacy Street, he moved to the
west curb line and began checking underneath the parked cars, looking for LEON. Near the
south end of the garages at 1221-1227 North Lacy Street, ALCALA saw a bright light in his left
peripheral vision. At the same time, ALCALA heard GARCIA yelling, “Let me see your hands!” at
somebody. From his position on the west curb line of North Lacy Street, ALCALA was able to
see that GARCIA was shining his flashlight and directing his attention at somebody who was in
the alcove area of the garage structure for 1221 through 1227 North Lacy Street. GARCIA was
standing on something that elevated him above the fence level of the backyard of 506 East
Washington Avenue.
Initially, ALCALA was unable to see who GARCIA was yelling command. As ALCALA
began to move towards GARCIA’s position near the alcove, LEON suddenly appeared in
ALCALA’s view. ALCALA saw the back of LEON’s head, and as he continued to rise fro m below
the fence level, ALCALA saw the back of LEON’S torso and waist. LEON elevated quickly toward
S.A. 12-031
Investigator: BRETT ANDERSEN Approved By:
Date of Report: 04/02/2013 Date: 04/02/2013
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GARCIA and was not responding to GARCIA’s commands to “don’t move” and “stay there.”
GARCIA repeated, “Let me see your hands!” As ALCALA got closer to LEON and GARCIA, he
could see that LEON had advanced on GARCIA enough that he was within approximately 3 feet
of GARCIA. ALCALA believed that LEON was close enough to reach out and touch GARCIA. Even
though ALCALA could see LEON’s back from the waist up to his head, he could not see LEON’s
hands and they appeared to be in front of him.
GARCIA believed LEON was either armed with a gun, a knife, or was trying to convince
GARCIA that he had a weapon.
LEON refused to comply with GARCIA’s commands as he climbed out of the alcove and
advanced toward GARCIA. As he advanced, LEON repeatedly told GARCIA, “Fuck you, I’m going
to kill you!” while continually tugging at his front waistband , with his right hand and reaching
out with his left hand, for GARCIA’s handgun. According to GARCIA, “Um, so when he’s climbing
up his, his body actually becomes a silhouette to me, he’s ah blackened out by the light, the back
drop of the light.” At this time, GARCIA was still holding his handgun in his right hand and
pointing it at LEON.
GARCIA was convinced that LEON intended to take his gun away from him and kill him
with it. GARCIA stated, “So the last image I have of him is saying “fuck you I’m going to kill
you!” pulling on his waistband. Um, that image is immediately broken by his left hand…now
he’s; he’s up here by his left and reaching out for my gun. My gun is, I want to say a foot, foot
and a half from his hand. Um, once I see that , I know that he’s, he’s committed. He’s ready to
take me down, it’s either I commit to it, or I let him, I let him take my back and now I could be
dead…”
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Investigator: BRETT ANDERSEN Approved By:
Date of Report: 04/02/2013 Date: 04/02/2013
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When LEON reached for GARCIA’s handgun, GARCIA told LEON once more n ot to move.
LEON continued advancing, so in fear of his safety, GARCIA fired one round, striking LEON in the
chest. According to GARCIA, “Um, so once that image is broken, I tell him again don’t move,
don’t move, and he’s continuing. I shoot him once, I see the light, ah…the muzzle, it hits him
straight in the chest. He doesn’t jump over, he doesn’t step back, he continues.”
LEON continued advancing on GARCIA, so GARCIA fired two more times; according to
GARCIA “(LEON) continues to come at me. At that time, I immediately do two more rounds, but
it was within seconds, it was…a bam, bam, and it hits him. He (LEON) screams out, “you got
me” and jumps over now.” After GARCIA shot LEON a second time, LEON jumped over the
block wall and into the parking lot of 600 East Washington Avenue.
GARCIA explained that a Taser and other less lethal options were not considered due to
the unstable platform GARCIA was standing on, and the lack of available time to respond to
LEON’ aggressive behavior. According to GARCIA, “Now, um, it’s…based on my training
experience the way this male… his demeanor, his actions uh, when I was in training, I had this,
this one guy holding onto his waistband as he ran and he dumped two guns. Um, I like I said I’ve
had suicide, suicidal guys with a knife, even with a Taser, um still stick themselves in the chest.
This guy was within feet of me. Um, if he had a gun, he could have easily shot me right there
and then. If he had a knife he could have easily stabbed me up here. Um, if you asked me if I
feared for my life, yeah, I believed his threats were there, and I believed he had the capacity and
the…uh…he was fully committed to wanting to kill somebody that night.”
In ALCALA’s opinion, LEON’s rapid advancement and subsequent proximity to GARCIA
posed a threat to GARCIA’s safety. ALCALA was fearful for GARCIA’s safety, but due to the fact
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Investigator: BRETT ANDERSEN Approved By:
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that GARCIA was in his line of fire, ALCALA did not shoot at LEON. It was at this point, that
ALCALA heard GARCIA fire three shots. After the shots were fired, LEON either jumped or fell
over the cinderblock wall and into an adjacent parking lot below.
LEON was taken into custody in the parking lot of 600 East Washington Avenue. Officers
provided medical aid to LEON prior to the arrival of Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA)
paramedics.
According to , GARCIA was standing under a large tree next to the south
wall. GARCIA’s left foot was on a makeshift bench that was nailed to the base of the tree and
his right foot was on the ground. LEON climbed up out of the alcove and on to the top of the
block wall. saw LEON with his hands raised in the air above his head, walking on top of
the 3 inch wide wall. LEON took two or three steps in an easterly direction on top of the block
wall and looked down at the officer. As LEON stood on the wall above the officer with his
hands in the air, LEON yelled at the officer in a “slurred” voice “fuck you motherfuckers!” The
officer shot LEON three times.
said that LEON drank one large bottle of beer and left another one inside the
apartment that evening.
At approximately 2354 hours, the following personnel assigned to OCFA Engine 75 were
dispatched to the area of East Washington Avenue, north of French Street, in the city of Santa
Ana, regarding a gunshot victim:
GABRIELSON, KEN Captain/Paramedic
LONG, MIKE Firefighter/Paramedic
WELCH, STEVE Engineer
JIMENEZ, RODRIGO Firefighter
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At approximately 2358 hours, Engine 75 arrived on scene. For safety reasons, OCFA
personnel staged nearby until it was safe to enter the scene. Approximately two minutes later,
OCFA personnel were cleared to enter the scene and were directed to LEON by SAPD officers.
GABRIELSON found LEON handcuffed and laying on his right side. GABRIELSON was
advised by SAPD officers that LEON had been shot with a .40 caliber handgun. LEON was
suffering from a gunshot wound to his right upper chest and another to the right upper
quadrant of his abdominal area.
According to GABRIELSON, LEON was placed on a backboard and immediately
transported via Care Ambulance to Western Medical Center – Santa Ana, located at 1001 North
Tustin Avenue, in the city of Santa Ana. While en route to the hospital, GABRIELSON
administered oxygen via mask and started two intravenous lines (IVs). The IVs were inserted in
the left and right forearms. No medications were administered via the IV lines. Although they
attempted spinal immobilization, LEON did not tolerate it due to his injuries. Other than
answering medical questions, LEON made no statements regarding how he was shot.
At approximately 0012 hours, LEON arrived at Western Medical Center – Santa Ana.
GABRIELSON turned treatment of LEON over to the trauma team that met them at the
emergency room.
Doctor was the treating emergency physician and surgeon for LEON.
LEON entered the Emergency Room conscious and was able to answer questions
regarding his medical history. LEON did not make any statements regarding what had occurred
that evening or how he was injured.
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Investigator: BRETT ANDERSEN Approved By:
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LEON was admitted for two gunshot wounds; one was a through and through wound to
his right chest area and the second was a gunshot wound to his right abdomen. A chest X-Ray
and a Computed Axial Tomography (CAT) Scan were completed. The chest wound was
determined not to need treatment. The right abdomen wound was determined to need an
for an injury to LEON’S . The right side of LEON’S and his
during surgery. After surgery, the abdomen was left open and
would be closed during a future surgery.
The CAT scan showed one projectile still lodged in LEON’S back, under his skin.
did not remove this projectile during surgery and believed that it would be removed
during the future surgery. expected LEON to make a full recovery. While the nurses
were tending to LEON after surgery, they observed a laceration to his right arm.
On December 19, 2012, I attempted to interview LEON regarding the shooting incident;
however, he declined to be interviewed for this investigation.
On December 19, 2012, Officer DANIEL ALCALA was interviewed. At the conclusion of
the interview, it was learned that, while Officer DAVID GARCIA was in the backyard of 506 East
Washington Avenue when he fired his handgun; LEON was actually climbing out of the alcove
area next to the garage structure at 1221-1227 North Lacy Street.
EVIDENCE ANALYSIS
WEAPONS EXAMINATION
Officer GARCIA’s department issued Glock Model 22 , .40 caliber pistol, serial number
LGU499, was submitted to the OCCL for testing. The Glock pistol was test fired and operated
S.A. 12-031
Investigator: BRETT ANDERSEN Approved By:
Date of Report: 04/02/2013 Date: 04/02/2013
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without malfunction. The 3 fired cartridge casings from the scene (EM-1 and EM-2) were
determined to have been fired by GARCIA’s Glock model 22 pistol.
The bullet from the scene (EM-4) and the bullet recovered from LEON’s back both
shared class characteristics with the Glock pistol, however it could not be determined if the
bullet or jacket were fired from GARCIA’s pistol. The result of the microscopic comparison of
the bullet was inconclusive. The jacket lacked marks suitable for microscopic comparison.
GUNSHOT DISTANCE ESTIMATION
Evidence items EM3 and EM5 were examined for the presence of bullet holes,
gunpowder particles and gunpowder patterns. One hole was located near the center of the
shirt, in the design side of the larger shirt piece. One imbedded particle was observed near the
hole. The area around the hole tested positive with a presumptive test for lead.
Eight cartridges from one of the fully loaded Glock magazines were used to generate
gunpowder pattern exemplars from the pistol at muzzle to target distances of 6, 12, 18, 24, 30,
36, 48, and 60 inches.
Assuming the material of the shirt and the gunpowder pattern targets behave similarly,
and significant amounts of gunpowder were not lost during the prior handling of the shirt, the
shot into the shirt by the Glock pistol was at a muzzle distance between 24 and 36 inches.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
LEON has a California . He has previously been
arrested for the following charges:
S.A. 12-031
Investigator: BRETT ANDERSEN Approved By:
Date of Report: 04/02/2013 Date: 04/02/2013
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)