Prosecutors charge suspect with attempted murder in shooting of San Jose police officer

The police officer that was shot suffered serious damage to her intestine, colon, liver, gallbladder, and spine, prosecutors said

SAN JOSE, Calif. — According to prosecutors, the man who shot and seriously injured a San Jose police officer on Wednesday faces a potential life sentence in prison.

According to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, Gabriel Mario Carreras, 44, was arraigned Friday afternoon at the Hall of Justice in San Jose, where he faces a felony charge for attempted murder of a police officer and various firearm assault charges.

Prosecutors also detailed the officer’s major injuries for the first time since the incident, noting that she was in critical but stable condition as of Friday afternoon.

Carreras was apprehended Tuesday after a four-hour standoff with police at a residence west of downtown San Jose.

According to a police statement of facts filed Friday, officers responded to a family disturbance call at a condominium complex near Auzerais Avenue and Race Street at 7:51 a.m. A pregnant woman reported that her husband was drunk and tried to hit her and break down a bathroom door, telling her he “did not want the baby.”

According to the statement, police arrived at the two-story townhome around 8:25 a.m.; both officers were in uniform and had their body cameras activated. As they attempted to pass through a locked gate, one of the officers noticed that a second-floor door was open and summoned those inside to come out.

According to the police statement, the suspect came out, raised his arm at one of the officers, and fired a.38-caliber pistol once, striking her. The bullet struck the officer below her protective vest, causing damage to her intestine, colon, liver, and gall bladder, as well as fracturing her spine, according to authorities.

The injured officer crawled toward her partner, who dragged her to safety and began treating her wounds with the help of another officer. The officer was taken to the hospital and was still being treated in critical but stable condition on Friday.

Prosecutors confirmed that officers did not return fire on Carreras. Following the shooting, more police arrived on the scene and established a perimeter, as the suspect remained inside the home. Prosecutors said they heard two more gunshots around 9:36 a.m. and a minute later.

After about an hour, the woman who had called police emerged from the house, the pistol in her back pocket. She later told police that she had heard but not seen the additional reported gunshots, and that Carreras had passed out with the gun at his side.

She took the weapon, fled the house, and surrendered to police. She later stated that she returned home at 6:15 a.m. to find Carreras packing his belongings and telling her that he did not want to be in the relationship and that she should terminate the pregnancy.

The woman dashed to the restroom and shut the door behind her. According to police, Carreras “violently pushed” the door open, breaking it off its hinges, and attempted to punch the woman in the stomach. He only missed her because she was able to move back. He confronted her after she dialed 911 and followed her into a bedroom, where he accused her of texting someone, grabbed her cellphone, and threw it on the floor, according to police.

When police arrived at the house, the woman saw Carreras take a handgun from a packed bag of clothing, according to police. She locked herself in her bedroom after hearing a single gunshot. He then entered her bedroom and told her that “everything was her fault and that because of her, he shot and may have killed a cop,” according to police.

Carreras was not legally permitted to possess the weapon because he was a convicted felon, according to San Jose Police Chief Anthony Mata on Wednesday. Carreras was convicted in 2005 of assault with a deadly weapon and participation in a criminal street gang, according to court records. According to prosecutors, the gun used in Wednesday’s shooting was unregistered.

“There are too many guns in the hands of too many dangerous people,” said District Attorney Jeff Rosen, an outspoken advocate for better gun violence prevention across the country. “Too many people, including police officers, are being shot.” Today, an officer is critically injured in the hospital after attempting to save a pregnant woman. As we express our heartfelt gratitude to her and her brave partner, we are determined to ensure that this suspect never sees a gun or freedom again.”