A felon sentenced to probation in California is back in custody after allegedly shooting a police officer responding to a domestic disturbance call in San Jose, according to the city’s police chief.
Chief Anthony Mata said two San Jose police officers responded to a home near Auzerais Avenue and Race Street around 8:28 a.m. Wednesday following a call from a woman who said her husband was drunk and was trying to hit her.
When officers arrived at the condominium complex located west of the city’s downtown, they “made contact with the residence and immediately began shooting the suspect,” according to a department spokesperson via KTVU. Fox 2.
Mata said the suspect, who has since been identified as 44-year-old Gabriel Mario Carreras, began shooting the two officers from the balcony landing of the condo, which serves as the main entrance to the residence. He described the shooting as an “ambush” during a press conference on Wednesday.
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Gabriel Carreras, 44, is charged with shooting a San Jose police officer on August 16, 2023. (San Jose Police via KTVU FOX 2)
The unidentified female officer was hit by gunfire to her upper body outside of her body armor and was rushed to Santa Clara Medical Center for treatment after her partner male – who was not shot – got her to safety. On Wednesday evening, Mata said she was in critical but stable condition.
The injured officer, who has 10 years of law enforcement experience, is the first female San Jose officer to be shot in the line of duty, according to Mata, and the second officer to be shot in performance of his duties this year.
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His partner, who has not been identified by the police department but was revealed by his brother, received praise from the chief, who said “his actions surely contributed to them both surviving the this attack.
South Bay Assemblyman Evan Low, D-Cupertino, said on social media Wednesday afternoon that his brother, Ryan Low, was the male San Jose officer involved in the incident.
He wrote: “Today my brother and his partner were ambushed by a gunman and his partner was shot. Please send your encouragement to the officer who remains in the hospital and to my brother who is my hero. Yes, my support for Law Enforcement is deeply personal, but they should also have your support. They risk this for all of us.
South Bay Assemblyman Evan Low has revealed his brother, Ryan Low, was the San Jose police officer who brought his partner to safety after she was shot. (@Evan_Low/X)
Carreras was taken into custody at 1:17 p.m. following a standoff that lasted about four hours and prompted the evacuation of nearby residents. He is in jail without bail.
According to Mata, Carreras was on probation in Santa Clara County at the time of Wednesday’s shooting. He then described him as a “coward” with a “long criminal history”, adding that he was a “convicted felon with a gun he should never have had”.
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San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan took to X, formerly known as Twitter, shortly after Carreras’ arrest to share his best wishes for the officer’s recovery.
“I pray for the speedy recovery of our officer @SanJosePD who was shot this morning while responding to a domestic violence call. She is currently in hospital and my thoughts are with her family during this incredibly difficult time.” , Mahan wrote.