Case filed with Contra Costa County DA’s Office

By Allen D. Payton

According to Antioch Police Lt. William Whitaker, Ryan Hardy, the 23-year-old suspect in the Antioch shooting of an 11-year-old girl on Jan. 5, 2025, has been charged with attempted homicide.

“The Antioch Police Department Investigations Bureau has continued to work diligently on this investigation over the past week,” Whitaker further shared. The case has been filed with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office. Charges are as follows: Attempted Homicide – PC 664/PC 187 (a) (Five Counts) and Negligent Discharge of a firearm – PC 246

As previously reported, on Monday January 5, 2026, at 12:38 PM, Antioch Police Department officers responded to a report of shots fired in the parking lot of the Delta View Apartment complex located at 3915 Delta Fair Boulevard. While officers were responding, they learned that an 11-year-old girl had sustained a gunshot wound to the head while inside a vehicle in the apartment complex parking lot.  The girl was transported to Children’s Hospital Oakland.

Previously, Whitaker shared that “the bullet is lodged in her head and they’re trying to monitor to her to decide if they’re going to remove it or leave it.” As of Monday he said, “They are leaving it in for 90 days and will then reassess.”

As a result of the continued investigation, detectives have determined that the victim and her family were not involved in any criminal activity at the time of the shooting. The shooting appears to have occurred because of a misidentification of the intended target.

On Jan. 7th, police identified Hardy and encouraged him to peacefully surrender. On Monday, Jan. 12th, Ryan Hardy self-surrendered to the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office and, according to Detective John Cox, he was to be transported to Contra Costa County today.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Antioch Police Detective John Cox at (925) 481-8147 or via email at jcox@antiochca.gov.

By Antioch Police Department

We will be holding a community meeting for City Council District 1 residents on Tuesday, January 20th, 2026, to provide updates as well as discuss any issues or concerns. The meeting will begin at 5:00 PM in the Antioch Police Department’s Community Room at 300 L Street.

According to Community Liaison Officer Joseph Amiri the meeting will include an open forum with Q&A. Some of the topics that will be covered are Neighborhood Watch and staffing updates, as well as additional resources such as CitizenRIMS, which stands for (Records Information Management System), and a discussion of See, Click, Fix.

Antioch City Council District 1 includes all the area north of Highway 4 and east of Highway 160. To find your council district visit https://www.antiochca.gov/243/Find-Your-City-Council-District.

For more information contact Officer Amiri at jamiri@antiochca.gov or (925) 779-6900 extension 87046.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Held on $2.92 million bail

Police share latest condition of victim

By Lt. William Whitaker #6155, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

On Monday, January 12, 2026, Ryan Hardy, the suspect in the shooting of an 11-year-old girl in Antioch on January 5th, self-surrendered to the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office.

As a result of the continued investigation, detectives have determined that the victim and her family were not involved in any criminal activity at the time of the shooting. The shooting appears to have occurred because of a misidentification of the intended target. The case is expected to be filed with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office later this week.

As previously reported, on Monday January 5, 2026, at 12:38 PM, Antioch Police Department officers responded to a report of shots fired in the parking lot of the Delta View Apartment complex located at 3915 Delta Fair Boulevard. While officers were responding, they learned that an 11-year-old girl had sustained a gunshot wound to the head while inside a vehicle in the apartment complex parking lot. 

On Jan. 7th, police identified Hardy and encouraged him to peacefully surrender.

Asked about the condition of the girl, Lt. Whitaker responded, “She is trending in the right direction. She is stable, staring to regain her sight and can walk. It will be a long road of recovery, but she is alive.”

Previously, he shared that “the bullet is lodged in her head and they’re trying to monitor to her to decide if they’re going to remove it or leave it.” Asked if the doctors had made a determination, Whitaker responded, “They are leaving it in for 90 days and will then reassess.”

According to the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office, the 23-year-old Hardy is being held on $2.92 million bail, currently in San Francisco County Jail #2.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Antioch Police Detective John Cox at (925) 481-8147 or via email at jcox@antiochca.gov.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

At gas station early Monday morning

By Lt. Michael Mellone, Field Services Division, Antioch Police Department

On Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, at 1:11 a.m., Antioch Police Department officers responded to the ARCO at 3300 Hillcrest Avenue for a report of a disturbance. Upon arrival, officers located a 17-year-old juvenile suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The juvenile was transported to an area hospital for medical treatment, and his condition is not considered life-threatening.

The victim’s identity is not being released.

This incident is being actively investigated by APD detectives. Investigators are conducting follow-up interviews, collecting and analyzing evidence, and reviewing available video and other investigative leads in an effort to identify and locate all involved parties. The investigation into this incident remains ongoing. To protect the integrity of the investigation, the Antioch Police Department is not releasing additional details at this time.

Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Antioch Police Department Investigations Unit at (925) 779-6926. You may also email information to tips@antiochca.gov. Tipsters may remain anonymous.

Police seek public’s help to ID, locate suspect

By Lt. Franco Cesar #7264, Antioch Police Field Services Division

On Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 10:46 p.m., Antioch Police Department officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 600 block of Wilbur Avenue.

Upon arrival, officers located a 29-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound to the neck. Officers immediately rendered medical aid until Contra Costa Fire Protection District personnel arrived on scene. The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he is being treated for injuries that have been determined to be non-life-threatening.

The investigation into this incident is ongoing. Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Antioch Police Department at tips@antiochca.gov.

One in five emergency calls are for overdoses, exposing first responders to contamination and infection

New law spearheads nationwide effort to stop overdose deaths and crack down on trafficking

By Julie S. Kramer, Press Secretary, Office of Congressman Josh Harder

WASHINGTON – On Dec. 11, 2025, Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA-09) announced that his bipartisan bill to protect law enforcement from fentanyl exposure has been signed into law, unlocking $57 million every year through 2030 for overdose training for local law enforcement. Led with Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), the Safer Response Act was included in a broader package of substance use prevention and recovery legislation that passed the Senate in September, alongside the rollout of a brand-new nationwide initiative to combat the fentanyl crisis.

Fentanyl in our community puts everyone at risk:

• Despite declines, fentanyl overdoses continue to be the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45, killing nearly 50,000 people last year alone.
• This creates an escalating crisis for first responders, with up to one-in-five emergency medical service calls involving overdose response.
• First responders are at risk of accidental exposure, contamination, and infection when responding to overdose emergencies.

“Our brave first responders never hesitate to answer the call and step in to save lives every single day, and they shouldn’t have to worry about self-exposure while they’re working to reverse life-threatening fentanyl overdoses,” said Harder. “This bill is going to bring millions for better training and modern resources to Valley departments, which will mean fewer lives lost to the deadly fentanyl epidemic. I’m grateful that lawmakers from across the aisle joined together to send this to the President’s desk, and I’m committed to ensuring our community continues to benefit from common-sense laws like this.” 

How the Safer Response Act supports law enforcement:

• New technical assistance for local first responders to address overdoses.
• Additional training on how first responders and emergency medical services can protect themselves in the event of exposure.
• Outreach coordination teams to bridge gaps between public and private medical and emergency response partnerships.

Harder has made cracking down on the growing fentanyl crisis a top priority – he helped pass a bipartisan bill to put more fentanyl traffickers behind bars, and he is leading new legislation to close drug manufacturing loopholes that traffickers use to escape justice. Earlier this year, Harder met with more than 200 narcotics officers representing state associations across the country, including in California, as part of the National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition’s (NNOAC) 2025 Delegate Conference. 

Congressman Harder represents the 9th Congressional District of California. Following the passage of Prop. 50 last November, the new district boundaries will include Pittsburg, Antioch and portions of Oakley and other areas in Eastern Contra Costa County. Harder is expected to run for re-election in the new district.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Say 23-year-old Ryan “Hardy should be considered armed and dangerous”

Share more details about girl still in stable but critical condition

By Lt. William Whitaker #6155, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

Today, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, Antioch Police Department detectives identified Ryan Hardy as the suspect in the shooting of an 11-year-old girl on January 5th through a combination of video surveillance, witness statements and forensic evidence.

Hardy should be considered armed and dangerous. Members of the public are advised not to confront him. Anyone who sees Hardy in public or has information regarding his whereabouts is urged to call 911 immediately. Hardy is also encouraged to peacefully surrender to the Antioch Police Department.

During the course of the investigation, detectives identified several individuals who assisted Hardy in evading law enforcement. Those individuals, as well as anyone who knowingly assists Hardy in the future, will be subject to arrest for accessory under Penal Code section 32.

As previously reported, on January 5, 2026, Antioch Police Department officers responded to a report of shots fired in the parking lot of the Delta View Apartment complex located at 3915 Delta Fair Boulevard.

While officers were responding, they learned that an 11-year-old girl had sustained a gunshot wound to the head while inside a vehicle in the apartment complex parking lot.

The girl was transported to Children’s Hospital Oakland, where she was listed in stable condition.

Asked for an update on her condition, Lt. Whitaker shared, “It’s the same. She’s in stable but critical condition. The bullet is lodged in her head and they’re trying to monitor to her to decide if they’re going to remove it or leave it.”

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Antioch Police Detective John Cox at (925) 481-8147 or via email at jcox@antiochca.gov.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

31-year-old Matthew Britt, Jr. arrested for assault with a deadly weapon of 25-year-old woman; also arrested last June for assault with firearm; is a registered sex offender

By Acting Lt. Gary Lowther #4032, Antioch Police Field Services Division

 On January 6, 2026, at approximately 8:16 a.m., Antioch Police Department officers responded to a report of a family dispute at a residence at 51East 6th Street.

Upon arrival, officers contacted a 25-year-old woman, an Antioch resident, and determined she was the victim of a felony assault. The woman was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Officers attempted to make contact with the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Matthew Jeff Britt, Jr. Britt barricaded himself inside the residence and refused to exit. Officers learned Britt was possibly armed with a knife and had an extensive criminal history involving violence and evading law enforcement.

Several officers had guns pointed toward the house located on the north side of the street.

At one point, two girls walked past the police tape and were stopped by Antioch officers. Following a confrontation with officers, one girl was detained, handcuffed and placed in the back of a police vehicle. She could be heard saying, “He’s about to kill himself. Why would I not go in there? Why are you doing all this? He didn’t do anything to anybody.”

Instead of being sent to Juvenile Hall as one officer said could have happened, he released the girl.

Police blocked off E. 6th Street at A Street.

Due to the circumstances, the Antioch Police Department SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiations Team were deployed. Antioch SWAT members escorted three neighbors from their home next door. The Brentwood Police Department’s Bearcat rescue vehicle arrived on scene and was deployed to assist with the standoff.

After several hours of negotiations and de-escalation efforts, Britt voluntarily surrendered without incident. According to Antioch Police Captain Matt Koch, he “surrendered peacefully.”

Britt was uninjured and was evaluated by medical personnel at his request. He was subsequently booked into the Contra Costa County Jail on felony assault charges and is awaiting criminal filing by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the six-foot, one-inch tall, 200-pound Britt was born on 11/20/1994 and is being held in the Martinez Detention Facility. 1/15/26 UPDATE: His bond has been set at $360,000 and his next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 21st at 8:30 AM in Department 5 of Superior Court in Martinez.

According to localcrimenews.com, he is Black and was also arrested by Antioch Police on June 19, 2025, for assault with firearm on a person, possession of ammunition, carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, carrying a loaded firearm when not the registered owner and destroying evidence.

According to OffenderRadar.com, Britt is a registered sex offender convicted in 2015 of pandering with a minor over 16 years of age and is lives in Antioch which was confirmed by the California Megan’s Law Website.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.