TheeBadOne
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IDAHO FALLS — A man was being held in the Bonneville County Jail on Wednesday after authorities say his gun failed to fire when he tried to shoot a police officer and a hotel clerk.
Police had been looking for Leo Leal, 29, of Idaho Falls since December when officers were finally tipped that he was at a local hotel.
But when they tried to arrest him Monday evening, there was a scuffle in the lobby that police said ended with Leal pointing a semiautomatic handgun at the head of Detective Jeremy Galbreaith.
Leal pulled the trigger, but the gun did not fire. He then turned on hotel clerk Jeff Jenks and pointed the gun at him. But again it did not fire.
“That´s as close to death as I ever want to get,†the 23-year-old clerk said.
Leal, who had been wanted for threatening to make his ex-girlfriend watch him kill her husband, was eventually arrested and charged with assault and a weapons violation. Police say he apparently did not load the gun right.
Seven shots were left in the magazine but none were in the chamber.
“For most officers, a situation like this is once in a lifetime,†said Sgt. Steve Hunt, the Idaho Falls Police Department spokesman.
Police staked out the hotel Monday, waiting for Leal to arrive, Hunt said.
“I had a bad feeling about him,†Jenks said as Leal walked in. “He looked scraggly and worn out.â€
When officers identified themselves, Leal tried to run down the hall, but Galbreaith tackled him and the two scuffled, Hunt said. Jenks ran to help and grabbed Leal´s throat, only to see Leal pointing the gun at the officer´s temple.
Jenks said he yelled, “Gun! Gun!†and watched as Leal pointed the 9 mm at the detective´s head and pulled the trigger.
Leal pleaded innocent Tuesday in his first court appearance in 7th District Court.
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Police had been looking for Leo Leal, 29, of Idaho Falls since December when officers were finally tipped that he was at a local hotel.
But when they tried to arrest him Monday evening, there was a scuffle in the lobby that police said ended with Leal pointing a semiautomatic handgun at the head of Detective Jeremy Galbreaith.
Leal pulled the trigger, but the gun did not fire. He then turned on hotel clerk Jeff Jenks and pointed the gun at him. But again it did not fire.
“That´s as close to death as I ever want to get,†the 23-year-old clerk said.
Leal, who had been wanted for threatening to make his ex-girlfriend watch him kill her husband, was eventually arrested and charged with assault and a weapons violation. Police say he apparently did not load the gun right.
Seven shots were left in the magazine but none were in the chamber.
“For most officers, a situation like this is once in a lifetime,†said Sgt. Steve Hunt, the Idaho Falls Police Department spokesman.
Police staked out the hotel Monday, waiting for Leal to arrive, Hunt said.
“I had a bad feeling about him,†Jenks said as Leal walked in. “He looked scraggly and worn out.â€
When officers identified themselves, Leal tried to run down the hall, but Galbreaith tackled him and the two scuffled, Hunt said. Jenks ran to help and grabbed Leal´s throat, only to see Leal pointing the gun at the officer´s temple.
Jenks said he yelled, “Gun! Gun!†and watched as Leal pointed the 9 mm at the detective´s head and pulled the trigger.
Leal pleaded innocent Tuesday in his first court appearance in 7th District Court.
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