Man Accused Of Shooting Cop In Head Pleads Not Guilty

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA – Leonardo Jose Cabral Jr., a man accused of shooting an Antioch
police officer in the head with a BB gun last week, pleaded not guilty Tuesday afternoon at his arraignment in a Pittsburg courtroom.

A neighbor called police to a residence in the 4500 block of Deerfield Way around 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 6 after Cabral allegedly threatened him with a firearm.

When officers arrived at the home Cabral called to them from an upstairs window and said he'd be right down, but when he opened the front door he immediately fired on them with a high-powered BB gun. One of the officers was struck in the head and transported to a hospital, according to police.

Officers cordoned off the area, issued a shelter-in-place warning for the neighborhood and called a hostage negotiator to the scene as Cabral barricaded himself inside and a standoff ensued for several hours.

After Cabral peacefully surrendered, police searched the home and found several BB guns, including one described as a replica of a full size pistol, as well as BBs and live ammunition.

The criminal complaint against him includes felony charges for assaulting an officer causing great bodily injury, exhibiting a deadly weapon to evade arrest, making criminal threats and assault with a deadly weapon.

Cabral is currently being held on $245,000 bail, and is scheduled to return to court Nov. 27.

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