UPPER LAKE, Calif. – An Upper Lake man was arrested early Saturday after it was alleged that he shot at two juveniles who he believed were on his property.
Salvador Zenadia Estrada, 56, was arrested on a felony charge of willfully discharging a firearm in a negligent manner, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Brooks said deputies also seized two firearms – a 9 millimeter handgun and a 9 millimeter carbine – at the time of the arrest.
Just before 12:30 a.m. Saturday deputies were dispatched to a residence located in the 300 block of Maddocks Court in Upper Lake for a reported shooting. Brooks said Central Dispatch advised that Estrada had shot at three trespassers on his property.
Deputies contacted Estrada at his residence. Brooks said Estrada explained that he has a security system and while looking at his security monitor, he saw three people walking on his property.
Estrada said he grabbed his 9 millimeter handgun and walked to the front door of his residence, where he could hear people walking slowly in front of his home. Estrada believed they were walking toward his vehicle and were going to steal it, according to Brooks' report.
Brooks said Estrada told the deputies that he fired his handgun twice through his front window at the unknown people. He said he shot over the suspects in an attempt to scare them away.
Estrada explained that he was the victim of an attempted home invasion robbery approximately one year ago, where unknown suspects attempted to steal marijuana he was growing in his backyard, Brooks said.
The deputy located the window Estrada admitted shooting through and found what appeared to be two bullet holes in the glass, according to Brooks' report.
Brooks said the deputy noticed that one of the bullets had a clear downward angle. The bullet went through the window and down through the air conditioner which was mounted in the same window.
The deputy was able to locate both of the 9 millimeter casings, which Brooks said were seized as evidence.
Deputies canvassed the neighborhood in an attempt to contact witnesses and locate any additional evidence. Brooks said they contacted a neighbor who lives next door and shares a driveway with Estrada. The neighbor’s house is located approximately 25 yards from Estrada’s residence.
The neighbor said his 12-year-old grandson was walking in the area with his friend, who also is 12 years old, at the time of the shooting. He said his grandson and his grandson’s friend stepped out of the house to get some air, because it was extremely hot inside, Brooks reported.
Deputies contacted both of the juveniles, who said they stepped outside to get some air and walked down the driveway. Brooks said the boys denied walking on Estrada’s property and said they had turned around and were walking back when they heard two gunshots come from Estrada’s house.
One of the juveniles said he thought he felt one of the bullets go over his head. Both of the juveniles denied walking near Estrada’s vehicle, Brooks said.
The deputy seized Estrada's firearms and booked them into evidence. Brooks said Estrada was arrested and transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility, where he was booked.
Bail was set at $15,000. Jail records indicated that Estrada posted the required percentage of bail and was released.