Eric J. Mullen
SAN LEANDRO – Criminal charges were filed by the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office on June 13 accusing a local resident, 34-year-old Eric J. Mullen, of shooting a church statue last week.
Mullen was arrested on June 10 by San Leandro police officers investigating several reports of gunfire at St. Felicitas Catholic Church, located at 1650 Manor Boulevard. One neighbor told police that he saw smoke and the suspect leaving the church.
When officers arrived at the church they determined that Mullen matched the description of the suspected gunman. However, Mullen refused to cooperate with investigating officers.
While officers were attempting to detain him, Mullen allegedly reached towards his waistband where a loaded handgun was concealed. Officers nevertheless were able detain and disarm the suspect.
Following an investigation, officers determined that about seven bullets were fired at the statue depicting St. Felicitas, and at least two bullets ricocheted inside the church. The statue was damaged, but no persons were injured. No one was inside the church when the shooting occurred shortly after 2 p.m.
Police suspected Mullen committed a hate crime, but later conceded they were unable to obtain enough evidence to substantiate hate crime charges.
Mullen is charged with vandalism of religious property, discharging a firearm with gross negligence, possession of a firearm by a felon, carrying a concealed firearm, carrying a loaded firearm in public, and resisting or obstructing an officer.
Mullen remains in custody at the county’s Santa Rita Jail in lieu of $250,000 bond. He’s scheduled to appear on June 15 for a pretrial hearing at the Hayward Hall of Justice.
Court records indicate that Mullen was previously convicted of assault with a deadly weapon in March 2008. If convicted again, Mullen faces sentencing in state prison.
