By Henry K. Lee
The San Francisco Chronicle
An alleged Union City gang member could face life in prison after being convicted Wednesday of attempted murder for shooting a Fremont police officer who tried to arrest him in Oakland.
Andrew Barrientos, 21, showed no emotion upon hearing the verdict by an Alameda County Superior Court jury in Oakland. He faces at least 50 years to life behind bars when he is sentenced Dec. 16 by Judge Jeffrey Horner for shooting Fremont police Officer Todd Young.
Young, 40, declined to comment after the hearing. He was escorted from the courtroom by numerous Fremont police officers.
“He respects the service of the jury; he respects the verdict,” said Detective Bill Veteran, a police spokesman.
“He’s glad to get past this and get on with his recovery, and he wants to thank everybody involved.”
Police Chief Craig Steckler said, “The justice system worked the way it was designed to work. We’re very happy for Todd.”
Barrientos shot Young on Aug. 27, 2010, near the corner of Auseon Avenue and Olive Street in East Oakland. Young was trying to arrest Barrientos, who was wanted for evading arrest and threatening his girlfriend in two previous incidents.
Young testified that he had been running after Barrientos when the alleged gang member suddenly swung a 9mm semiautomatic handgun toward him from 15 feet away and fired 10 shots.
Two shots hit Young in the pelvis. He underwent numerous operations at Highland Hospital in Oakland and is now recuperating at home and undergoing physical therapy. He remains on leave from the Fremont Police Department.
Defense attorney Barbara Thomas argued that Barrientos hadn’t recognized that Young, who was in plainclothes that day, was a police officer.
Deputy District Attorney John Brouhard played for the jury a recording of the shooting that was captured by the Oakland Police Department’s gunfire detection system. Young can be heard yelling, “Police! Police!” before shots are fired.
Barrientos fled after the shooting but was caught near the U.S.-Mexican border by a San Diego police sergeant.
Copyright 2011 The San Francisco Chronicle