Man Shot After Holding Daughter Hostage Is Still in Critical Condition
A parolee who authorities say held his 1 1/2-year-old daughter hostage for more than 23 hours before being shot by police remained in critical condition Thursday.
Gabriel Anthony Leon was shot in the abdomen and buttocks about 1 p.m. Wednesday and has “pretty massive injuries,” Kim Pine of UCI Medical Center in Orange said. “Additional surgery is expected in the near future.”
Leon, 25, was shot during a frontyard encounter with police at a home in the 2000 block of West Wilshire Avenue in Santa Ana. His daughter was not hurt and was released to her mother, said Santa Ana Police Sgt. Baltazar De La Riva. When Leon is released from the hospital, he will likely face numerous charges, De La Riva said.
The Orange County district attorney’s office also will investigate the officer-involved shooting, said Anaheim Police Sgt. Rick Martinez. Leon was shot by Anaheim SWAT officers called in to replace Santa Ana officers as the standoff dragged on, Martinez said.
The incident began about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday when Leon, who is on parole for assault with a deadly weapon, fought with ex-girlfriend Maribel Ramirez over custody of the girl, De La Riva said.
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