Hayward Police Concerned About Retaliation After Fatal Shooting By Officers
HAYWARD (KCBS / KPIX 5) – A woman who was fatally shot Tuesday night after threatening Hayward police officers was carrying a replica handgun and left a suicide note, authorities said. Meanwhile, police are concerned about retaliation from the woman's son, who is being held on drug and weapons charges.
Hayward police said 62-year-old Ariel Levy had been distraught about the recent arrest of her son, 23-year-old Evan Pimental, for narcotics and assault weapons violations by the Pleasanton Police Department. The Hayward Police Department had assisted in that arrest.
Pleasanton police had requested a welfare check on Levy, after she contacted both agencies and stated she felt she had been mistreated by police.
When Hayward police arrived to check on Levy around 7:15 p.m. Tuesday at the Summerwood Apartment Homes on Foothill Blvd., they were told she might be depressed. When they contacted Levy in her apartment, she displayed a replica handgun that appeared to the officers as a silver-colored semi-automatic weapon.
"She backed into her apartment, and as the officers were calling for cover, she came back out again and made threats towards them, indicating she was going to shoot at them," Sgt. Eric Melendez of the Hayward Police Department told KPIX 5.
The officers, believing that she posed a serious threat, opened fire, striking Levy. She was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The handwritten note, indicating that she wanted to end her life because of recent family problems, was found after a search warrant was served on her apartment.
Hayward police have not identified the two officers involved in the incident, who have been placed on paid administrative leave.
Police told KPIX 5 that they won't release their names because they are worried about Pimental calling shots from behind bars.
"We're fearful of retaliation of the officers by either the son if he gets released or of associates. Once we have taken care of those safety issues, we will be providing their names," Melendez said. "We're still looking for details regarding who his associates were, and who he was involved with in terms of narcotics sales."
The department, along with the Alameda County District Attorney's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) continue to investigate the shooting.