A San Gabriel man is in custody this morning after an incident last night that took place in the 2100 block of Sherwood Road in San Marino.
John Gabriel, who was a candidate for a seat on the San Marino school board at the November 2018 election, was arrested on charges of making criminal threats, child endangerment and possessing an unregistered firearm.
Apparently estranged from his family, Gabriel arrived at his former Sherwood Rd. home at approximately 10:30 p.m. last night. After a verbal confrontation, Gabriel threatened family members with a gun. Upon arrival of officers, the suspect was observed inside the residence holding a dark object and yelling at several people inside the home. Four members of the family ran from the suspect to officers in front of the residence, two children and their grandmother however, remained inside the home.
SMPD personnel removed the residents from the scene, secured the area around the house and requested additional assistance from neighboring police agencies. At that time it was verified that two children and their grandmother were still inside the residence and that the suspect was armed with a handgun. The suspect refused orders to exit the home and surrender to police. Since the suspect refused to surrender and two children and their grandmother were still inside the residence, it was determined that the incident had escalated to a barricaded hostage situation. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) was contacted to assist.
SEB attempted to negotiate the release of the hostages and Gabriel’s surrender, but he repeatedly refused to comply, so SEB initiated a hostage rescue. During the effort, numerous diversionary devices were utilized and the three remaining family members were safely removed from the residence.
San Marino Police Chief John Incontro told The Tribune that special agents employed “flash-bangs,” which create pulses of bright light and concussive sounds meant to disorient the suspect. They worked.
At about 3:00 this morning, Gabriel exited the residence, but failed to comply with the directions of the SEB personnel. A use of force occurred and when Gabriel continued to resist, a K9 was utilized to stop the suspect. He was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.
Gabriel spent six years in the United States Army, where he earned the Expert Field Medical Badge, or EFMB, one of the most advanced Army special skills badges. The EFMB requires that candidates pay strict attention to detail to successfully complete the combat simulation. While serving in the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Gabriel was selected for a rigorous 72-hour evaluation process involving tests of both knowledge and technical competency. Gabriel successfully passed the evaluation and was inducted into the “Order of the Spur,” which recognizes the Army’s elite.
Gabriel was one of seven candidates at the November 2018 San Marino school board election, but was not successful in winning a seat.
