Lakeport man in custody for Saturday night shooting
- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Authorities have arrested a Lakeport man who they say was responsible for a shooting on Saturday night.
Leonso Paul Rangel, 46, was arrested in the case, according to Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Paulich said that at 11:40 p.m. Saturday Lake County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 1300 block of Soda Bay Road in Lakeport for a report of male who had been shot. Officers from the Lakeport Police Department and California Highway Patrol also responded to assist.
The victim told authorities he had been shot in the back while walking on the sidewalk on Mission Rancheria Road and ran to his aunt’s house for help, Paulich said.
The victim was transported to an out-of-county hospital by air ambulance for medical treatment. Paulich said the man’s injury is not life-threatening.
Deputies received information that the shooting suspect was Rangel. Paulich said the deputies were able to locate the scene of the shooting and collect evidence.
Paulich said law enforcement contacted the victim the following morning at the out-of-county hospital.
The victim identified Rangel as the person who had shot him. The man told authorities that he thought Rangel shot him because Rangel believed the victim was attempting to have a relationship with Rangel’s girlfriend.
At noon on Sunday deputies contacted Rangel at his residence and placed him under arrest, Paulich said.
Paulich said detectives from the Sheriff’s Office’s Major Crimes Unit interviewed Rangel, who provided a statement admitting he had shot the victim. Rangel told detectives he was only trying to scare the victim and did not mean to hit him.
The weapon used by Rangel also was located, Paulich said.
Rangel was booked at the Lake County Jail on charges of attempted murder, assault with a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, and violation of probation, according to Paulich.
On Monday Rangel remained in custody with a no-bail probation hold. Jail records indicate he is scheduled for arraignment in Lake County Superior Court on Tuesday.