|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
A coroner’s inquest was held for the death of San Ramon resident David Leon, who shot himself in the head during an Aug. 18 traffic stop in Concord. On Tuesday, a Contra Costa County determined Leon’s death to be a suicide.
A California Highway Patrol officer saw Leon driving east on state Highway 4 near Port Chicago Highway at about 9:20 a.m. and believed he was impaired, Concord Police Lt. Steve Dyer said in August. When the officer initiated a traffic stop, Leon exited onto southbound Port Chicago Highway and pulled over near Panoramic Drive.
The 59-year-old then pulled a small-caliber handgun from beneath a towel covering a bloody arm wound, brought it to his temple and shot himself, CHP officer John Ambler testified on Tuesday. Leon was taken to John Muir Medical Center where he died from his injuries.
Because an officer was present when Leon shot himself, the case is considered a fatal officer-involved incident; the coroner’s office holds inquests for every officer-involved and in-custody death in order to publicly discuss the investigation. According to reports, an autopsy showed prescription drugs and traces of cocaine in Leon’s blood.
Ambler also testified that he knew Leon wasn’t attempting to attack him during the time between initially seeing the gun and Leon pulling the trigger. A Concord detective said Leon, a commercial truck driver on suspension for DUI, was depressed over his recent divorce, the death of his mother and his employment situation.
Investigations by Concord Police, Highway Patrol and Contra Costa County District Attorney found that Leon had written a will shortly before the suicide.
