Danville officer who fatally shot two men pleads not guilty to voluntary manslaughter

A Danville police officer pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of voluntary manslaughter and assault with a semi-automatic weapon for a 2018 on-duty fatal shooting.

Andrew Hall, who shot and killed two men in separate cases more than two years apart, appeared in Contra Costa County Superior Court in Martinez on the charges related to the death of Laudemer Arboleda on Nov. 3, 2018.

Hall, who is out on bail, appeared in court with his lawyer, San Francisco defense attorney Harry Stern. Judge Rebecca Hardie set a July 20 preliminary hearing date.

Hall shot the 33-year-old unarmed Newark resident nine times after Arboleda attempted to maneuver his car between two police vehicles that pulled him over on Front Street in Danville.

An investigation by the Contra Costa County’s Sheriff’s Office, which contracts with Danville for police services, initially cleared Hall of any wrongdoing, something Stern pointed out after Wednesday’s hearing.

Stern said:

“I’m also convinced that this is a case brought for political reasons. … He was cleared by a thorough investigation. He fired in defense of his life. There’s absolutely no question about that.”

Civil rights attorney John Burris, who is representing Arboleda’s family in a civil suit brought against the county and the Sheriff’s Office, said he expected Stern to say that.

The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office didn’t decide to prosecute Hall for the 2018 killing until April 21 of this year, about five weeks after Hall shot and killed Tyrell Wilson in Danville. Burris is also representing Wilson’s family in a civil suit.

Burris said:

“You can’t create a confrontation and shoot your way out of it, and claim it was self-defense.”

The attorney added:

“The shooting was unjustified and this officer should’ve been prosecuted. If he had been prosecuted earlier, then Mr. Wilson — who later was killed by the same officer — would not be dead.”

On March 11, Hall responded to reports of a man throwing rocks onto Interstate Highway 680 from the Sycamore Valley Road overpass. Law enforcement officials have said the 32-year-old man approached Hall near the overpass with a folding knife and Hall shot him in self-defense. Witness cellphone footage shows Hall approach Wilson in an intersection where he shot him shortly after initial contact.

Wilson, the African American son of a retired Southern California police officer, died in the hospital the following week. The second shooting is still being investigated. According to the families, both deceased men suffered from mental health issues.

Hall is currently on paid administrative leave from the Danville Police Department.