Full Notification

On Monday (9/23), at 4:30PM, Novato Police received a 9-1-1 call regarding a man who was brandishing a firearm after a suspected road rage incident on DeLong Ave. The victim was able to provide timely and accurate information to responding officer, who located the driver parked in his vehicle, in the downtown Novato area. The driver was identified as Leobardo Mora, a 51-year-old Novato resident. Mora was found in possession of a newly purchased imitation firearm, which had a threaded barrel and no orange tip. Through additional investigation, Mora was confirmed as the person who brandished the weapon in a threatening manner in public. Mora was arrested by citation for brandishing a replica firearm and the case was sent to the Marin County DA’s Office for review.

The photo below shows the similarities between a real firearm and the imitation one. The confiscated replica is constituted as an “imitation firearm” per California law as it does not have the required colored barrel tip. No person may openly display or expose any imitation firearm in a public place. Officers responding to calls involving firearms (real or fake) must treat every call as a real safety threat. They must rely on limited information coupled with their training, tactics and sound decision making to navigate and resolve a potentially deadly situation.

We are thankful that the witnesses quickly called NPD with accurate information ultimately leading to a positive outcome. It is important to remember to report suspicious behaviors immediately to NPD by calling 415-897-4361 or 9-1-1 in an emergency. Imitation firearms can pose safety hazards and create fear or panic if used in public places. We are thankful this incident did not involve a real firearm, and we remind our community to be aware of the safety concerns regarding use of any type of firearm, especially while driving. For questions regarding firearm safety, please call the Novato Police Department at 415-897-4361. We also provide free gun locks for the community upon request. Stay safe Novato!