Leonardo Gallegos

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information CDR Number: 19-326-UF Version Type: AMENDED Report Date: 10/4/2019 1:59 PM Status: Submitted Agency/Facility Information Texas Department Agency Name: Agency Address: PO BOX 4087 Of Public Safety Agency City: Austin Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 78773 Director Information Director Salutation: Director Director First Name: Steven Director Middle Name: C Director Last Name: McCraw Joanne Reporter Name: Reporter Email: [email protected] Scarbrough Decedent Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Identity of Deceased First Name: Leonardo Middle Name: Last Name: Gallegos Suffix: Jr. Date of Birth: 7/14/1978 Sex: Male Race: Hispanic or Latino Age At Time Of Death: 40 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 3/27/2019 4:16 PM Incident: Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Death Date and Time: 3/27/2019 6:10 AM Manner / Cause of Death Has a medical examiner or coroner conducted an evaluation to determine a cause of death? Medical Examiner/Coroner Yes, results are Evaluation?: available What was the manner of death? (select only one) Homicide (includes Manner of Death: Justifiable Homicide) Custodial Death Report :: Page 2 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: Gunshot Wounds of Chest and Leg. Had the decedent been receiving treatment for the medical condition that caused the death after admission to your jail's jurisdiction? Medical Treatment: Not Applicable If death was an accident, homicide or suicide, who caused the death? Law Who caused the death?: enforcement/correctional personnel If a weapon caused the death, what type of weapon caused the death? (Hold CTRL to select all that apply) Type of weapon that caused Rifle/shotgun death?: Was the cause of death the result of a pre-existing medical condition or did the decedent develop the condition after admission? Not Applicable; cause of death was Pre existing medical accidental injury, condition?: intoxication, suicide or homicide If death was an accident, homicide or suicide, what was the means of death? Means of Death: Firearm Location / Custody Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 3 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Where did the event causing the death occur? Street Address: 1200 FM 1337 City: Morton County: Cochran Zip: 79346 What location category best describes where the event causing the death occurred? Location Category: Field/woods/lake/waterway/beach What type of custody/facility was the Decedent in at the time of death: Pre-Custodial Use Type of Custody: of Force Specific type of custody/facility: Specific Type of Custody/Facility: Custody of Law Enforcement Personnel during/fleeing arrest What was the time and date of the deceased's entry into the law enforcement facility where the death occurred (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Entry Date Time: Entry Date Time N/A: Where did the death occur? Death Location: Scene of incident General Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 4 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Did any other law enforcement agencies respond to calls for service related to this incident? Other Agencies Respond?: Yes What were the most serious offense(s) with which the deceased was (or would have been) charged with at the time of death? Offense 1: Failure to Register as a Sex Offender Offense 2: Possession of a Controlled Substance Offense 3: Were the Charges:: Filed What were the types of charges or reason for contact? (Hold CTRL to select all that apply) Type of Offense: Other, specify Type of Offense, Other: Traffic Violation At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent display or use a weapon? Decedent display/use of Yes, mark all that weapons: apply Decedent Display or Use Discharged firearm Weapon Details: At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Yes (select all that Attempt to Injure Others?: apply) Attempted to injure Ways Decedent Attempted To Custodial Death Report :: Page 5 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Injure Others: law enforcement personnel At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Appear intoxicated (alcohol or No Make suicidal statements?: No drugs): Exhibit any mental health No Exhibit any medical problems?: No problems?: At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Barricade self or initiate Resist being handcuffed or No Yes standoff?: arrested?: Physically attempt/assault Gain possession of officer's Yes No officer(s): weapon: Verbally threaten other(s) Escape or attempt to No Yes including law: escape/flee custody: Attempt gain possession No officer's weapon: Was the deceased under restraint in the time leading up to the death or the events causing the death? Under Restraint: No Summary of Incident Summary of How the Death Occurred: (max. 30,000 characters) Summary: On March 27, 2019, at 4:16 p.m., a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper, along with a DPS Special Agent, attempted to stop a 2006 Chevrolet pickup for failing to signal a turn in Levelland, Texas. The driver, later identified as Leonardo Gallegos Jr., failed to stop, and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit lasted approximately two hours and six minutes. During this time, assisting officers successfully deployed spikes strips, deflating the fleeing vehicle's two front tires. Gallegos, however, continued to evade and ultimately led approximately ten Texas Highway Patrol units and one Hockley County Sheriff's Office unit into a field off of FM 1337 between Whiteface and Morton, Texas. While driving through the field, Gallegos fired a sawed-off shotgun at the pursuing officers. Nine troopers and Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- the special agent returned fire, striking Gallegos four times. The officers immediately pulled Gallegos from the vehicle, but they found no pulse. They attempted lifesaving measures without success. Gallegos was later pronounced deceased by a Cochran County Justice of the Peace. Custodial Death Report :: Page 7 of 7