Lee Leeds

Mass Murderer

Lee Leeds and the 2008 Black Road Auto Mass Murder

Overview

On March 18, 2008, Lee Isaac Bedwell Leeds carried out a mass shooting at Black Road Auto, an automobile salvage yard operated by his family in Santa Maria, California. Leeds, who was 31 years old at the time, shot and killed four men inside the property, including his father, Robert Leeds. The other victims were Golden "Dave" Duboise, Ricardo Cardenas Leal, and Terry Edward Majan. The killings occurred at approximately 4:00 p.m. at the salvage yard on Black Road in northern Santa Maria. All four victims suffered fatal gunshot wounds and died at the business. Leeds was taken into custody shortly after the attack. He admitted responsibility for the shootings, but his severe mental illness became the central issue during the prolonged criminal proceedings that followed.

The Black Road Auto Salvage Yard

Black Road Auto was an automobile dismantling and salvage business located at approximately 1625 Black Road in Santa Maria, within Santa Barbara County. The property contained vehicles, automobile parts, work areas, and other structures associated with a commercial salvage operation. Leeds was familiar with the location because the business belonged to his family and was operated by his father. On the afternoon of March 18, Leeds arrived at the salvage yard armed with a firearm. Once on the property, he moved through the business and shot the four men. Investigators and prosecutors later characterized the killings as a deliberate series of shootings rather than a single uncontrolled discharge of a weapon. The victims were found in different areas of the property, indicating that the violence unfolded across the salvage yard over a short period.

The Murders

Robert Leeds, the gunman's father and the owner of Black Road Auto, was among those killed. Reports concerning his full name have varied, with some records identifying him as Robert Lewis Leeds and others referring to him as Richard Leeds. Court and sentencing coverage commonly identified him as Robert Leeds. He was 66 years old. Golden Eli David "Dave" Duboise, whose surname was also reported as Dubois, was killed at the same location. Duboise was approximately 45 years old and was described in reports as a customer, associate, or person connected with the salvage yard. Ricardo Cardenas Leal, commonly identified in court coverage as Ricardo Leal, was 33 years old. Terry Edward Majan was also killed during the attack. Majan's age was reported as either 37 or 38 in different records. Authorities determined that the four men were intentionally shot by Leeds. No evidence established that the three victims other than Leeds's father posed an immediate physical threat to him. Although Leeds later claimed that he believed the men were involved in a plan to kill him, prosecutors maintained that his actions showed planning, awareness, and an understanding of what he was doing. ...

Confirmed Victims: (4)

Golden Dave Duboise 45 yr old Male

Lee Leeds to spend life in prison | Crime and Courts