American Canyon Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Fatal 2024 Lake Berryessa Shooting

Gabriel Chavez receives a 10-year prison sentence for the 2024 fatal shooting of Andres Sandoval Garcia during a brawl at Lake Berryessa.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 23, 2026, 10:14 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Mercury News and The Press Democrat.

Violence at Oak Shores Day-Use Area

The incident occurred on June 8, 2024, at the Oak Shores Day-Use area, a popular recreational spot on the west side of Lake Berryessa. According to investigators, a confrontation between two unrelated groups escalated into a massive brawl involving broken bottles and other weapons. Prosecutors alleged that during the chaos, Chavez shoved a woman to the ground and pointed a firearm at her. When Andres Sandoval Garcia stepped in to intervene, Chavez fired the fatal shot.

Conflicting Accounts of the Brawl

Court records reveal starkly different versions of what triggered the violence. Chavez’s defense attorney argued that the shooting was an act of defense. They claimed Sandoval, who was intoxicated at the time, had entered a women's restroom and verbally abused two women associated with Chavez’s group. Conversely, prosecutors maintained that Chavez’s party initiated the confrontation and that Chavez’s actions—including punching an unconscious man and assaulting a smaller woman—demonstrated a pattern of aggression rather than self-defense.

Legal Resolution and Sentencing

Initially charged with first-degree murder, Chavez faced a sentence of 25 years to life if convicted by a jury. However, on February 18, 2026, just days before pre-trial arguments were set to begin, Chavez reached a plea deal. By pleading no contest to voluntary manslaughter and assault, his sentence was capped at 10 years. Napa County Superior Court Judge Scott Young oversaw the proceedings and has scheduled a follow-up hearing for June 16 to determine victim restitution.