On October 29, 2019, at approximately 10:30 a.m., a domestic violence incident was reported on Cabrillo Way.  Officers responded to the residence and contacted the victim.  Officers determined that a domestic assault had occurred. The victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries from the incident.  Officers began a search for the suspect.

At approximately 4:00 p.m., Sacramento Police Department officers located the suspect, in a vehicle, in the South Sacramento area.  When officers attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle, the vehicle fled, and a slow speed pursuit ensued.  The pursuit continued into the unincorporated county of Sacramento, and concluded on Mello Court. 

At approximately 4:20 p.m., the suspect exited the vehicle from the passenger side.  He was holding a 13-year-old female victim hostage.  Officers observed the suspect holding a firearm to the victim as he retreated into a residence on Mello Court.  The 13-year-old was known to the suspect.  The driver of the vehicle was detained and interviewed by detectives.  He has not been arrested for the incident.

SWAT and Crisis Negotiation Teams (CNT), from both the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and Sacramento Police Department, responded to the scene.

Officers determined that the residence on Mello Court was not known to the suspect, and that there was a total of seven other residents inside of the house. 

When CNT teams arrived on scene they immediately established communication with the suspect.  They began the process of de-escalating, and negotiating, to bring the incident to a peaceful and safe resolution.  The Sheriff’s Office CINT (Crisis Intervention and Negotiation Team) and SWAT (S.E.D. Special Enforcement Detail) teams took over the incident in the late evening hours.

Overnight, 6 hostages were safely released from the residence, and Sheriff’s Office personnel took custody of them.  Throughout the night, deputies were able to confirm that the suspect was armed with a handgun.  They were also able to confirm that the 13-year-old victim, and adult female, were still inside of the residence.

On October 30, 2019, at approximately 5 a.m., Sacramento Police Department personnel returned to the scene, and relieved the Sheriff’s Office.  CNT officers continued negotiating with the suspect.

At approximately 8:14 a.m., two females emerged from the house, and ran to awaiting SWAT officers.  SWAT officers immediately took them away from the scene, and into safety. Our preliminary investigation reveals that the adult female heroically escaped with the 13-year-old victim, while the suspect was not paying attention.  Officers interviewed the two victims, who confirmed that all hostages had been released and were uninjured.

SWAT and CNT teams continued to negotiate with the suspect for a safe, and peaceful, resolution to the incident.  As the day continued, communication with the suspect dwindled.  SWAT teams began to gain intelligence that the suspect was now hiding in the residence, and refusing to exit.  SWAT teams determined where the suspect was hiding, and were able to introduce a chemical agent to a specific area in the house.  The suspect immediately surrendered, and was taken into custody by Sacramento Police Department SWAT officers, without injury.

The suspect has been identified as 27-year-old Eric Leyva.  Leyva is currently in custody for kidnapping and has been booked at main jail. Detectives are still actively investigating this case, and additional charges are pending.

We recognize that these incidents impact the daily lives of not only victims directly involved, but the entire community.  The Sacramento Police Department would like to thank the community for their patience and understanding during this incident.  Additionally, The Sacramento Police Department would like to thank all allied agencies and partners for their assistance, and role they played in resolving this incident.