By GEORGE KUNKE, geoakunke@gmail.com
Wednesday, September 14, 2022 10:47 am
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LEBAM - The town of Lebam was in shock when a man was shot dead Saturday night at approximately 5:30 in the front yard at a residence located in the 2400 block of State Route 6. Arrested was Gabriel A. Delgado, 32, of Raymond. The shooting was precipitated when an altercation started between Delgado and his older brother, Andrew Delgado, 36, of Raymond, who was shot in the head and killed in the front yard of a home.
According to Pacific County Dispatch, a 911 call came in at 5:33 from the victim's wife, Danielle Messer, saying, "my husband was shot by his brother." Two minutes later a sibling called and said, the "brother was shot in the head by his brother; they were fighting."
A spokesperson at the Pacific County Prosecutor's Office told the Herald Monday morning, "He hasn't officially been charged yet, he was arrested on Probable Cause for Murder in the First Degree, Domestic Violence; Assault in the First Degree Domestic Violence and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm." Delgado was scheduled "to be heard" in Pacific County Superior Court at 1:00 p.m., Monday. At his appearance, Delgado was "formally been charged with Murder in the First Degree and Assault in the First Degree," according to the prosecutor's office.
According to a press release from Chief Criminal Deputy Pat Matlock of the Pacific County Sheriff's Office, "Sheriff deputies along with officers from the Raymond and South Bend Police departments responded to the scene and located what appeared to be an adult male lying in the front yard unresponsive as a result of a gunshot wound to the head. Medical aid confirmed that the male was deceased."
According to Matlock, "While on scene, investigators learned that both Andrew and Gabriel Delgado had been working on a shed adjacent to the property," Matlock wrote. "The reporting party, Messer had also been present. Both brothers had been drinking alcohol a majority of the day. At some point, the brothers got into an altercation and an argument ensued.
"Gabriel Delgado entered the residence and retrieved a handgun from his mother's purse, who was also at the residence," Matlock continued. "According to Messer and the mother, Gabriel walked out the rear door of the residence and started shooting toward the shed where Andrew and Messer were located. At some point, Messer was grazed by a bullet on her leg. Both Messer and Andrew Delgado retreated to their vehicle and fled the scene. A suspected bullet hole was also discovered on the vehicle that they fled in.
"Investigators learned that a short time later, they returned to the residence and parked across the highway. Andrew Delgado exited the vehicle and started to walk into the front yard of the residence allegedly to retrieve his tools that he had left behind," Matlock wrote. "Delgado's mother, identified as Rose Rascon, said that Gabriel fired three shots from inside the residence through the front window at his brother, Andrew Delgado striking him in the head."
Chief Criminal Deputy Matlock added, "The crime scene was processed and evidence was collected including the 9MM handgun in question as well as spent shell casings."
Delgado was booked into Pacific County Jail Saturday night with no bail set. Prior to that, he was taken to the Raymond Police Department for questioning.
The Raymond and South Bend police departments responded to the scene.
"RPD did have officers on scene," Raymond Police Chief Chuck Spoor told the Herald Monday morning, adding, "I will not offer comment as this is a county case."
South Bend Police Chief Lucas Stigall offered, "Yes, SBPD responded and was able to detain the suspect without incident and secure the scene until PCSO deputies could arrive."