Berkeley man charged after firearm assault, threats

A convicted felon is set to enter a plea this week after authorities say he kicked his way into a home in Berkeley, struck a woman in the chest and threatened to shoot a man inside, then fired a handgun into the air after leaving the apartment.

Isaiah Gardea, 22, was arrested Sept. 21 at his Berkeley apartment on Burnett Street, and remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail with a bail of $680,000.

According to court papers, Gardea forced his way into a home in the 1200 block of Ashby Avenue on Sept. 21, and threatened a man, using a gun, around 4:40 a.m. A woman and a 14-year-old girl were also present.

Police say Gardea kicked open the door of the apartment, and hit the woman in the chest, “causing her to stumble.” He then brandished a firearm at the man while threatening to shoot him.

According to police, Gardea then left the home. Witnesses heard several gunshots seconds after he left the unit, “which they believe came from … Gardea based on the close proximity.”

Police said Gardea was convicted in October 2011 of felony larceny. He was sentenced to five years of probation. That conviction was reduced due to Proposition 47, police wrote, but Gardea is still prohibited from possessing a loaded firearm due to his criminal history.

Police responded and arrested Gardea just before 6 a.m. In his bedroom, they found a firearm and ammunition in a duffle bag at the foot of his bed.

The Alameda County district attorney’s office has charged Gardea with eight felonies: assault with a firearm; criminal threats; home burglary; child abuse; discharge of a firearm with gross negligence; possession of a firearm by a felon; carrying a loaded firearm on one’s person in a city; and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

Gardea is set to enter a plea at the Wiley Manuel Courthouse in downtown Oakland on Tuesday at 9:05 a.m.

There have been no reported homicides in 2015 in Berkeley, but police have responded to at least nine other shootings this year.

There was an incident at Bancroft Way and Bonar Street in early February that involved no victims but did result in bullets piercing an occupied apartment building. The same night, police arrested a man on suspicion of attempted homicide after he reportedly shot at someone during a domestic dispute.

Berkeley Police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer Coats said previously that there was also a shooting Feb. 22 in the 1500 block of Harmon Street, but police believe that may have been an accidental self-inflicted injury. The male victim suffered a minor injury that was not life-threatening.

In March, there was a shooting in broad daylight, at 62nd and King streets, that sent one man — reportedly an innocent bystander — to the hospital.

In April, a shooting at Ashby and Shattuck sent two people to the hospital.

In late June, a man was shot during the course of a robbery, at Ashby Avenue and Newbury Street, but was expected to survive.

On July 5, someone shot at a group in the 1600 block of Russell Street. No victim came forward, however.

On Aug. 15, police investigated a shooting in the 2800 block of Mabel Street near the southwest corner of San Pablo Park. A victim was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Also in August, someone fired a gun into the air outside a party on Carleton Street, and later told police he had done it “because he was angry about getting ‘jumped,’” according to authorities.

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Emilie Raguso