Andrew Hall, a Contra Costa County sheriff’s deputy assigned to Danville police services, was criminally charged and later convicted in connection with the fatal shooting of Laudemer Arboleda during a police pursuit in downtown Danville, California.
Official Reports
According to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, Danville Police Department officers responded at 11:03 a.m. on November 3, 2018, after a report that Arboleda had rung a doorbell on Cottage Place and was lingering in the area. The DA said Arboleda drove away from the neighborhood in a 2014 silver Honda, officers attempted a traffic stop, and Arboleda drove away after officers exited their patrol car.
The DA reported that additional patrol cars joined a pursuit that lasted about nine minutes and reached speeds up to 50 mph. The pursuit moved toward Front Street in Danville. Hall, who was not involved in the initial pursuit, stopped his vehicle in front of the approaching pursuit. The DA said that as Arboleda slowly maneuvered between Hall’s vehicle and another police vehicle, Hall ran around the rear of his vehicle and fired his semi-automatic pistol at Arboleda.
The DA said Arboleda’s vehicle continued into the intersection of Front Street and Diablo Road and struck a 2006 silver Jeep occupied by an adult. Officers found Arboleda unresponsive in his car with his foot on the gas pedal. He was taken to San Ramon Valley Medical Center and pronounced dead at 11:44 a.m.
Charges
In April 2021, Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton announced felony charges against Hall for causing Arboleda’s death “without lawful excuse or justification.” The DA charged Hall with felony voluntary manslaughter and felony assault with a semi-automatic firearm. The DA also announced firearm-related enhancements and an enhancement alleging that Hall’s unlawful activity caused great bodily injury.
The charges were filed more than two years after the shooting. Case information released by the DA identified the case as People v. Andrew Hall, docket number 01-195930-3.
Conviction And Sentencing
In October 2021, a jury convicted Hall of assault with a firearm in the fatal shooting of Arboleda. KQED reported that the jury deadlocked on the voluntary manslaughter charge, and the judge declared a mistrial on that count.
On March 4, 2022, Hall was sentenced to six years in state prison. In its sentencing release, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office said the jury found that Hall unreasonably shot Arboleda, and described Hall’s actions as dangerous, unreasonable, and excessive.
Lawsuit And Civil Settlement
Arboleda’s family pursued civil claims after the shooting. KQED reported that the lawsuit named the town of Danville, Contra Costa County, and Hall, and that the family received a $4.9 million settlement from Contra Costa County and the town of Danville.
Official Statements And Defense Position
District Attorney Becton said Hall used unreasonable and unnecessary force when responding to the pursuit and said the case showed the need for de-escalation training and better coordinated responses involving people suffering from mental illness.
Hall’s defense disputed the prosecution. DanvilleSanRamon.com reported that Hall’s attorney Harry Stern called the charges unfounded and politically motivated and said the defense would fight to protect Hall’s due process rights. Reporting also noted that Hall’s lawyers argued he feared for his safety during the encounter.
Later Case Status
In 2025, KQED reported that Hall had been released from prison in March after serving about half of his six-year sentence, and that a judge later denied his request for early release from parole.
Allegations, Convictions, And Uncorroborated Claims
The allegations in this story are the criminal allegations announced by prosecutors and the civil claims reported in connection with Arboleda’s family lawsuit. Hall’s conviction was for assault with a firearm; the voluntary manslaughter charge did not result in a conviction because the jury deadlocked on that count. Claims about Hall’s intent, political motives, racial motives, and whether he reasonably feared for his safety remain disputed and should be attributed to the specific party making the claim. This story is based on official Contra Costa County District Attorney releases and reporting from KQED, KTVU, Courthouse News Service, and DanvilleSanRamon.com.
