Patrick Leonard was 67 when he died from a gunshot on July 26, 2019, in Cotati, California. He was found in the garage of his Robin Avenue home after police responded to a call about 6:35 p.m.; he was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead. This was reported as Cotati’s first homicide in 24 years.

The shooting followed an ongoing dispute with a neighbor, 68-year-old Joseph Rossi. The two had a heated argument outside their homes before Leonard was shot. Rossi was arrested at the scene on suspicion of homicide; a handgun recovered from his home was believed to be the murder weapon and was sent for lab testing. Rossi was charged with murder, pleaded not guilty, and was held without bail. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for October 23, 2019.

The case drew attention in the small community, with assistance to Cotati police from Healdsburg and Sonoma State University officers and scene processing by Rohnert Park Public Safety officers. Does anyone have information about the dispute between Leonard and his neighbor that could help clarify what happened?