Gabriel Manzo, 40, of Mesa, was sentenced March 13 by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 177 months in federal prison. Manzo pleaded guilty to assault on a federal officer and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence.

On April 20, 2020, Manzo drove his truck to the FBI office in Phoenix. He exited his vehicle, approached the north security fence, and fired three rounds from his .380-caliber pistol at the building, according to a release.

He then returned to his truck and drove to the front of the office. He exited his vehicle and fired another 15 rounds, breaking 11 windows, and causing more than $98,000 in damages. Manzo returned to his vehicle and started to drive away when he noticed an FBI agent, who was in his government-issued vehicle, behind him. Manzo stopped, exited his truck in the middle of the street, and fired three rounds at the agent, the release states.

The case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

The FBI conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from the Phoenix Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Vercauteren, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.