The death of an Aromas man involved in a two-hour standoff with
deputies has been ruled a suicide, San Benito County Sheriff Curtis
Hill said.
Hollister – The death of an Aromas man involved in a two-hour standoff with deputies has been ruled a suicide, San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill said.
An autopsy of 52-year-old Tommy Ralph Gabriel concluded Wednesday that he died of asphyxiation after setting a garage ablaze Friday night at his Seeley Avenue Home, Hill said. A deputy shot at the suicidal Gabriel when he threatened deputies after setting the fire.
The examination and autopsy found no evidence of a gunshot wound, Hill said.
“Based on the individual statements made by the suspect at the scene, under manner of death we’re going with suicide,” Hill said.
Gabriel’s family was unavailable for comment Wednesday.
Dr. John Hain, a board certified forensic pathologist with the Monterey County Coroner’s Office, reported that Gabriel’s asphyxiation was caused by smoke inhalation from a house fire, Undersheriff Pat Turturici said.
Hill said that Hain took tissue samples to determine the levels of carbon monoxide in Gabriel’s lungs. Hill added that the results could take up to three weeks to be returned.
“(Hain) estimated that level is going to be very high,” Hill said.
Although Gabriel’s death has been ruled a suicide, investigation into the shooting will continue, Turturici said.
“We’re conducting our own internal investigation on the incident,” Turturici.
In addition to the sheriff’s investigation into the matter, two other outside agencies continue independent looks at the incident.
“I felt it was important to have that independent review to show the community and keep it as transparent as possible,” Hill said.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation Tuesday morning, Hill said. Once completed, a report will be given to Hill for review.
The San Benito County District Attorney’s Office is also looking into the shooting.
District Attorney Candice Hooper said her office’s initial investigation showed that deputies followed procedures and policies correctly.
On Friday, deputies met with a man in Aromas who claimed he’d been assaulted earlier at the Gabriel residence, Lt. Roy Iler previously said.
Upon arriving at Gabriel’s home, his wife told deputies that he was suicidal, and Gabriel told deputies “come back tomorrow when I’m dead, otherwise you’re all going to die,” Iler said.
The sheriff’s office then began 90 minutes of negotiations with the man. Negotiations eventually deteriorated, with Gabriel setting the room ablaze and pointing a shotgun and assault weapon at deputies from the garage’s staircase landing, Iler said.
A deputy fired his AR-15 at Gabriel, who retreated back into the room, Iler said. Deputies attempted to rescue Gabriel and give medical aid, but flames forced the team away from the garage.
