Felons “equipped to do battle” caught heading to San Francisco after eagle-eyed CHP officers spotted license plate infraction
Two heavily-armed felons driving to San Francisco “equipped to do battle,” had their plans thwarted when alert highway patrol officers pulled them over for a license plate infraction, a court heard today.
Gabriel Jones and Jaleen McKeller were found with an arsenal of weapons, including a machine gun, plus body armor, huge quantities of ammunition and drugs during the July 6 2024 stop. The driver’s side floor of their car was littered with spent casings strongly suggesting that shots had been fired from the car.
Both defendants appeared this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Hixson after federal prosecutors took over a prosecution originated by their state counterparts in San Francisco.
“Someone in possession of a machine gun and wearing body armor looks to be equipped to do battle,” said Judge Hixson.
He said there were no conditions of release that would mitigate Jones’ danger to the public and ordered him detained pre-trial.
McKeller was freed to a halfway house on an unsecured $75,000 bond.
Just after midnight on July 6 2024, CHP Officers Anthony Herrera and Adrian Alejos were concerned to see a grey Chrysler sedan being driven westbound across the Bay Bridge with no rear license plate.
After stopping the vehicle at the intersection of Fremont and Howard Streets in the city and approaching the occupants, Alejos saw “a uniquely large handgun with a distinct red magazine” beside the center console.
Driver Gabriel Jones and passenger Jaleen McKeller were removed from the car at gunpoint and handcuffed. A search of Jones revealed him to be wearing body armor and to have, in his waistband, a loaded Glock pistol equipped with a switch enabling automatic fire, plus two additional loaded magazines.
A loaded Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro handgun was found in McKeller’s waistband along with two loaded magazines. In the Chrysler’s trunk was another gun – a loaded Ruger P89 – along with a loaded 50-round drum magazine and a loaded 30-round magazine.
Methamphetamine packaged for sale was also found in McKeller’s jacket.
Spent shell casings littered the driver’s side floor which, Judge Hixson observed today, would indicate that shots had been fired from the car.
Prosecutors say that Jones, 48, has “an extensive criminal history” featuring 10 felony and 11 misdemeanor convictions since 2003. These include firearms possession, assault and robbery.
McKeller, they said, had an open attempted murder case in Alameda County arising from an incident in May 2024. He opened fire on two men, hitting one in the hand, using the same gun he was found with just months later by the highway patrol.
Both defendants appeared this morning in Courtroom E of San Francisco federal courthouse for a detention hearing. Each faces a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, while McKeller faces an additional charge of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
“I am detaining the defendant as a danger to the community,” said Hixson of Gabriel Jones. “What I consider to be important and decisive here are the nature and circumstances of the allegation – specifically that Mr Jones was, according to the Government, in possession of a loaded Glock with a full automatic switch.”
“Someone in possession of a machine gun and wearing body armor looks to be equipped to do battle. Obviously this is very concerning to me.”
Shortly before being led away by U.S. Marshals, Jones protested to the Judge about the detention decision. “I have a right to defend myself right?” he asked.
An attorney for McKeller told the court that he should be released because he was “a regular person who stays out of trouble” – a claim somewhat contradicted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Josiah Bournes who highlighted Jones’ pending attempted murder case in Alameda, relating to a May 2024 incident in which he allegedly fired 13 shots at men on an Oakland street.
Judge Hixson nevertheless seemed reassured by a suggestion that this was in self-defense and ordered that he be released on an unsecured $75,000 bond on condition that he reside at a halfway house in San Francisco.
Both defendants were ordered to appear next on November 26.
The case continues.
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