Richmond barber charged with shooting up ex-girlfriend’s car during a night on the town

OAKLAND — The owner of a Richmond barber shop was arrested and charged with shooting up a car containing his ex-girlfriend and two of her friends after police say he drunkenly approached the trio at a downtown bar.

Leon Brown, 44, was charged with three counts of assault with a firearm, multiple gun possession charges, possessing cocaine for sale, and a misdemeanor count of sexual battery as part of a 13-count complaint filed in late December, court records show. He remains jailed in Alameda County with bail set at $420,000, after a judge denied a defense motion to release him outright.

Brown allegedly approached his ex-girlfriend and her two friends at a 14th Street bar on Nov. 23, when the ladies were out for what was supposed to be a fun night on the town. Police say he violated a restraining order by even taking to the woman, but then slapped her on the buttocks and was ejected from the bar.

Later, the women were in a idling vehicle when Brown allegedly left his Jeep, walked towards them, and fired at the car. None of the women were struck by gunfire, authorities said.

Brown owns and operates the Fadeaway Barbershop in Richmond. On Dec. 17, police tracked him to an Oakland apartment, believed to be his residence, and found two pistol magazines and baggies of “suspected cocaine that appeared to be for sales,” according to a police report. He was arrested and has been in custody ever since.

Brown has a prior felony gun conviction in Contra Costa that bars him from possessing firearms, according to the criminal complaint. He pleaded not guilty on Dec. 19, and is next due in court on Jan. 22, records show.