Tracy man charged with hate crime after admitting to shooting gardeners with BB gun, police say
TRACY – Tracy police say a man admitted to shooting gardeners with a BB gun because of their ethnicity earlier this week.
Now, that suspect, 38-year-old Leonardo Cabral of Tracy, has been charged with a hate crime by the San Joaquin County District Attorney and they say this isn't the first time he's shot at people with a BB gun.
One of the victim's brothers said they were traumatized by this.
They were just working, doing the job on a neighbor's house they were asked to do and that's when they were shot at.
Police say the suspect had a warrant for his arrest for something similar in nearby Contra Costa County.
Neighbors on Dominique Drive in Tracy are stunned after SWAT and crisis negotiators raced out for reports of a shooting.
"Oh it was very shocking, it does need to stop," neighbor Harv Gill said.
Gill said he heard the suspect screaming back at first responders.
"I heard the guy scream from his window, saying I did shoot at them, they were just two Mexicans, so he kind of admitted to it as well before he was under arrest," Gill said.
"Normal people, living their lives doing their jobs, and a guy starts shooting a BB gun at them," Tracy Police Sgt. Michael Richards said.
Richards said this all happened Monday afternoon in this normally quiet neighborhood. The SWAT team was called out after those shots were fired.
Damage to the door from that is still visible.
"The why is still confusing on our end too," Richards said. "There was no confrontation beforehand, there was no warning, it was just unprovoked. It could've been worse, especially with this person who has a habit of doing this sort of thing."
This isn't the first time Cabral has been linked to a crime with a BB gun. Richards said Cabral had a warrant for shooting at deputies in Contra Costa County.
"That department's SWAT team went out to his house," Richards said. "During that confrontation, he allegedly shot a BB gun at one of the SWAT officers."
Police say Cabral may have mental health issues. He is currently being evaluated and is still in custody Wednesday night.
"It's surprising as well because you really never know who your neighbors are," Gill said.
Richards said the exact motivation is still being investigated even though they confirm the suspect is the same ethnicity as the victims.
The victims sustained minor injuries and did not require medical attention.