Coroner’s inquest jury confirms Pittsburg man killed during shoot-out with police died “at the hands of another”

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

Sheriff-Coroner David O. Livingston announces that a Coroner’s inquest jury has reached a finding in the October 22, 2018 death of 37-year-old Salvador Contreras Morales-Cazares of Pittsburg. The finding of the jury is that the death was at the hands of another person, other than by accident.

Contreras was killed during a shoot-out with Pittsburg Police officers, following a domestic dispute that led to a police chase to Concord and back, and then barricading himself in a house.

According to an ABC7 News Report, “Morales eventually walked out of the house and onto the driveway with the gun and didn’t comply with police commands to drop the weapon, according to police. He was shot after he ‘raised the gun and fired towards officers,’ police said.”

The Coroner’s jury reached the verdict after hearing the testimony of witnesses called by the hearing officer, Matthew Guichard.

A Coroner’s inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner Livingston convenes in fatal incidents involving peace officers, is a public hearing during which a jury rules on the manner of a person’s death. Jury members can choose from the following four options when making their finding:

Accident, suicide, natural causes, or at the hands of another person, other than by accident.