Lonnie Ray Decker and Steven Robert Kelly convicted of the January 2024 murder of Roberto Gonzalez-Lamas and the attempted murder of Richard O’Mary

By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

Martinez, CA – Separate juries in Contra Costa County returned guilty verdicts in three murder trials this week.

On February 18th, a jury convicted Lonnie Ray Decker and Steven Robert Kelly of the murder of Roberto Gonzalez-Lamas and the attempted murder of Richard O’Mary. The shooting occurred on January 23, 2024, in Antioch.

Police responded to multiple gunshots on Bryan Avenue, where both victims were shot several times. Gonzalez-Lamas later died at a hospital, while O’Mary sustained severe injuries but survived. (See related article)

Both defendants will remain in custody without bail. They will be sentenced by Judge Christopher Bowen in Martinez on June 6th, 2025.

In The People v. Phuc Hong Vo, jurors convicted Vo of the first-degree murder of his 75-year-old mother-in-law, Que Thi Tran, and the second-degree murder of his wife, 40-year-old Tho Ngoc Ly. The verdict was reached on February 18th.

The victims were murdered by Vo on or about September 5th, 2023, in Contra Costa County.

While the body of Ms. Tran was recovered in the Oakland estuary on September 30th, police have been unable to locate Ms. Ly. Initially, Vo reported to San Pablo Police that his wife and mother-in-law had willingly left their home after he and Ly argued over family finances.

San Pablo Police became suspicious of Vo after receiving information that the disappearance was likely a double homicide. Moreover, actions by Vo like remodeling his home, hiding his wife’s car, lying to the police, and leaving the United States for Vietnam to meet a woman he had been seeing and wanted to marry, added to the circumstantial evidence that Vo was the only suspect in this case.

Vo will be sentenced at a future date by Judge Charles Burch in Martinez. He faces a sentence of life imprisonment without parole for the double murders.

On February 19th, in The People v. Lawyer Dushan McBride, a jury found McBride guilty of murdering Rashanda Franklin in 2017.

McBride, then 43, was waiting for Franklin, 30, in the church’s parking lot where she took her children to school. He had been following her and harassing her for weeks after she ended their 2-year relationship. Concerned for her safety, she called 911 as she fled the parking lot with her children. As both vehicles approached 29th Street and Rheem Avenue, McBride blocked Franklin’s car, exited his vehicle, and confronted her. The 911 recording captured Franklin pleading, “I’ve got my kids in the car.” McBride responded, “I ain’t playing with you,” before fatally shooting her.

In addition to the murder conviction, the jury found McBride guilty of shooting into an occupied vehicle, stalking, personally using a firearm to cause death, and inflicting great bodily injury in circumstances involving domestic violence.

Judge Mary Ann O’Malley will sentence McBride in Martinez at a date and time determined by the court.

Two of these homicide trials involved family violence. For anyone experiencing domestic violence or elder abuse, help is available at Contra Costa’s Family Justice Centers www.cocofamilyjustice.org or 24-7 through the crisis line at STAND! for Families free from Violence 1-888-215-5555.

Has history of arrests dating to 2017 and twice last year, including for child endangerment and cruelty to a child

“After conducting several tests, Con Fire HAZMAT determined the home to be uninhabitable.”

By Allen D. Payton

Four children were found unconscious in an Antioch home on Thursday, February 20, 2025, after a call came in from a passerby at 4:51 p.m. who stopped to check on them, and their mother was later arrested for child abuse. The children, ages 2, 2, 5 and 8, have been placed in the custody of Child and Family Services.

“We got a call from someone driving by who stopped and checked on the kids,” said Antioch Police Lt. Njoroge while at the scene. “When we got here, we checked on the welfare of the children. We’ve contacted the parents.”

Contra Costa Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Bob Atlas said, “We got the call about 5:15 pm that there were four children unconscious in the home. We arrived on scene, Antioch PD retrieved all the children and brought them outside. Con Fire provided medical care and transported all four children to area hospitals for evaluation. No adults were in the home.”

“We don’t know what it was. But we know a lot of things it wasn’t,” he explained. “When it’s a mystery like this we start by ruling out what it isn’t.”

At about 6:30 p.m. Con Fire placed a blower outside the home facing the open front door. “We are currently blowing out the environment for anything that could be potentially harmful,” Atlas added.

The following press release with additional details about the incident was issued Friday afternoon:

According to. Lt. Njoroge of the Field Services Division, “just before 5:00 p.m., officers responded to a welfare check regarding a 2-year-old child who was found alone and outside a home on the 2100 block of Spruce Way by a passerby. Upon arrival, officers discovered the front door of the residence was unsecured. Officers knocked and announced themselves, however nobody responded.

To ensure the child’s safety, officers entered the home and found three additional young children, with no adults present. The children appeared to require medical attention, and Con Fire, along with paramedics, was requested to the scene. All four children were transported to nearby hospitals for further evaluation.

UPDATE: To clarify matters, Lt. Njoroge later said, “Three of the four children were unconscious. The two-year-old seen outside was back in the house by the time officers arrived. But I can’t say which of the four was not unconscious.”

The children’s mother, 36-year-old Shante Alberty, later arrived at the residence and was placed under arrest on child abuse-related charges. She was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility.

After conducting several tests, Con Fire HAZMAT determined the home to be uninhabitable. All four children were medically cleared and placed into the custody of Child and Family Services (CFS).

This information was made available by the Field Services Bureau. Any further inquiries into the status of this case should be done via the Media Access Telephone Line 925-779-6874. Any further information or additional press releases will be provided by the Investigations Bureau.”

According to localcrimenews.com, Alberty has a history of arrests dating back to 2017 including twice last year by Antioch PD and San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department for crimes including battery on a spouse, cohabitant or former spouse, and on Sept. 5, 2024, for possession of a narcotic controlled substance, child endangerment and cruelty to a child by inflicting injury.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, she is Black. Also, according to the Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, eight-inch tall, 175 lb. Alberty was born on March 22, 1988, and is being held on $425,000 bail. She’s being held in the West County Detention Facility.

See exclusive Antioch Herald video of the scene, here.

Has history of arrests; APD Drone Team, CHP Air Support, Oakley Police K-9 assist

By Lt. Joe Njoroge #7052, Antioch Police Field Services Division

On February 20, 2025, just after 9:00 a.m., officers were around E. 18th Street and Cavallo Road performing proactive patrols during their shift. Their attention was drawn to an Infiniti on the roadway with several vehicle code violations. An officer made a traffic stop on the vehicle. As soon as the officer stepped out of his patrol vehicle, the Infiniti, driven by 40-year-old Terrance Lee Benjamin (born 11/6/1984), sped off southbound on Cavallo Road.

Due to public safety concerns, officers did not pursue the Infiniti. In the area of Garrow Drive and E. Tregallas Road, the Infiniti lost control and collided into an occupied home. Benjamin ran through several neighboring yards. After an extensive search of the neighborhood with resources from the APD Drone Team, CHP Air Support, and Oakley Police K-9, Benjamin was located in a nearby yard and taken into custody by patrol officers.

No one was injured inside the home that was struck. Con Fire, Antioch Code Enforcement, and representatives from the Antioch Public Works Department responded to evaluate the structural integrity of the residence that was struck.

Benjamin was transported to an area hospital where he was treated and later booked into MDF for the arrest warrant and the following additional charges:
CVC 2800.2(a) – Reckless Evading a Police Officer
PC 29800(a) – Felon In Possession of a Firearm
PC 25850(a) – Possession of a Loaded Firearm in Public
PC 25400(a) – Concealed Carry of a Firearm in Vehicle
PC 30305(a) – Prohibited Person in Possession of Ammunition
CVC 20002(a) – Hit and Run

According to localcrimenews.com, Benjamin has a history of arrests dating to 2019 by Antioch PD and the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department for crimes including vehicle theft, receiving/etc. known stolen property over $200, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to appear on a misdemeanor charge.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, 11-inch suspect is Black and being held in the Martinez Detention Facility on no bail. Benjamin’s next court appearance is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 21 at 1:30 p.m. in Superior Court in Martinez.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Already out of custody

By Brentwood Police Department

Last Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, around midnight, a Brentwood officer conducted a traffic stop near Lone Tree Way and Williamson Ranch for expired registration.

The driver, 33-year-old Deontae Markell Alexander of Antioch, was found to be unlicensed. Further investigation revealed that Alexander, a convicted felon, was in possession of a loaded firearm, which he is legally prohibited from owning or carrying. Officers also determined the firearm had been reported stolen.

This marks the officer’s fourth gun-related arrest this year, reinforcing the department’s commitment to keeping illegal firearms out of the community.

According to localcrimenews.com, Alexander was charged with Receiving or Concealing Stolen Property, Addict in Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Ammunition, Carrying a Loaded Firearm on Person or in Vehicle while in a Public Place, and Carrying a Concealed Weapon in a Vehicle. He also has a history of arrests dating back to before 2014 by multiple agencies including Antioch PD and Oakland PD for crimes including vehicle theft, possession of marijuana over 28.5 grams, DUI alcohol with BAC over .08 and battery on a spouse, cohabitant or former spouse.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, as of Friday, Feb. 14, he is out of custody and on his own recognizance.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

City’s second fatal shooting this year

By Antioch Police Department

On February 12, 2025, at approximately 10:24 p.m., Antioch police officers responded to the area of Hillcrest Avenue and Larkspur Drive for reports of shots fired in the area. When officers arrived on the scene, they found a victim who had been shot at least once. Antioch police officers provided aid to the victim who was transported to a local hospital.

The 22-year-old male victim later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

The Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau, consisting of Crime Scene Investigators and detectives with the Violent Crimes Unit responded to take over the investigation. This is an active investigation, and no further information will be released at this time.

Any further information or additional press releases will be provided by the Investigations Bureau. Any tips or other information can be directed to Antioch Police Detective Cox at (925) 481-8147 or by email at jcox@antiochca.gov.

It was the second fatal shooting in Antioch this year.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Leslie May claims she and her family “have endured numerous attacks on [her] individual property” and from local media baselessly saying they were “constantly pushing false narratives…inciting violent rhetoric”

Blames Councilman Freitas for “cultural misunderstanding” of her racist comments without explaining what she meant

Claims her “work on the commission has been transformational”

By Allen D. Payton

The City of Antioch finally released the resignation letter from former Antioch Police Oversight Commission member Leslie May, following her use of “the N-word” twice during the Jan. 17, 2025, special council meeting to describe City Manager Bessie Scott and then-City Attorney Thomas L. Smith. May submitted it on Monday, Feb. 10, after District 3 Councilman Don Freitas, who initially called for her to publicly apologize and resign from the commission.

After she refused to do either, he later requested to have a vote for her removal placed on this past Tuesday’s city council meeting agenda. Scott announced May’s resignation on Monday but did not provide the letter emailed to her, Mayor Ron Bernal, the City Clerk’s office and copying District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker that day. (See related articles here, here and here)

As previously reported, each council member could choose one member from their district to be nominated for appointment to the commission during the council meeting on Feb. 13, 2024. Torres-Walker nominated May for a two-year appointment that was to last through November this year, but she served a little less than a year.

In her resignation letter, below, May claims Freitas called for her “resignation due to a cultural misunderstanding” but did not explain what she meant by that.

Following is her emailed letter of resignation:

From: Leslie May
To: Bessie M. Scott; Ron Bernal; City Clerk
Cc: Tamisha Torres-Walker
Subject: Resignation
Date: Monday, February 10, 2025 8:35:22 AM
Date: 02/10/2025
Time: 8:30 am

To whom it may concern,

After talking with family and reflecting on my personal experience, it is in the best interest of my safety and health, I, Leslie D. May, am resigning effective immediately from my role as a commissioner for the Antioch Police Oversight Commission. My family and I have endured numerous attacks on my individual property, attacks from local opinion papers constantly pushing false narratives about my advocacy, inciting violent rhetoric now and prior to my appointment with the Antioch Police Oversight Commission. The dangerous attacks against me have increased since my appointment and most recently fueled by Councilmember Don Freitas calling for my resignation due to a cultural misunderstanding.

As a 73 year of age Black woman, I am a grandmother, a great grandmother, and a surrogate mother to many in our community. I am a physically disabled person from birth and over the past three years I have experienced derogatory statements about my facial features, my physical disabilities and false statements to my employer threatening the economic stability of family.

Related to these attacks the Federal DOJ has received reports, the California DOJ has received reports, the Antioch Police Department has received reports, the Federal Bureau of Investigations has received reports, and the Contra Costa County District Attorney Office has received reports. These agencies are actively investigating threats and actions made by community members in Antioch, surrounding cities, as well as local elected Officials.

Despite these attacks, my work on the commission has been transformational and has clearly defined Constitutional non bias policing in the City of Antioch starting with the following actions I have taken. I have been present, prepared, and attentive to the needs of those impacted negatively by policing in Antioch since my appointment. I have spent time reviewing the budget, policies, practices, and procedures of the police department and due to my due diligence, I have made credible recommendations like increasing mental health services for officers, increasing staff to meet these needs with a sense of urgency, and increased community engagement in our highest needs communities to foster trust and transparency.

I have been an advocate and activist, fighting for the civil rights of everyone. I have marched in Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, Georgia, the Carolinas, with Ceasar Chavez and the farmworkers, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Jesse Jackson, and many more activists since I was 8 years old. I can assure the City of Antioch and all my supporters that I will continue my advocacy and activism as a private citizen uninhibited by bureaucracy and the status quo.

Former Antioch Police Oversight Commissioner Leslie D. May

See May APOC resignation letter.

—————–

_{Publisher’s Note: Neither the Antioch Herald, nor I as the publisher and reporter on this matter, ever attacked Ms. May, published false narratives about her or her advocacy or incited violent rhetoric either in articles on the website or on the Antioch Herald Facebook page, prior to or since her appointment to the commission nor since her racist comments that were made during the special council meeting on Jan. 17, 2025.}

_{I stand by and will defend the reporting of the facts about what she said, and what she and others have said about the matter. Furthermore, I rarely offer my opinion on the Antioch Herald news website but do so frequently on the Facebook page as I engage with our readers, as I, too am a resident of Antioch.}

_{Yet, I have always shown Ms. May respect when challenging some comments she has written on that social media outlet and gave her the opportunity to edit them as I afford all of those who choose to comment there but include certain words that get them automatically hidden by the settings on the page – based on the community standards I have determined for it – or were administratively hidden. As I’ve said to politicians in the past, if you don’t like or want what you say, write or do reported, then don’t say, write or do those things. The same goes for any government official or candidate for public office.}

Help shape the future of Antioch’s Police Leadership!
También en Español

By Antioch Police Department

The City of Antioch is searching for its next Police Chief, and we want your input! Join us for a Community Meeting to share what qualities and experience you believe are essential for our city’s next law enforcement leader.

Thursday, February 20, 2025
6:30 PM
Antioch Police Department (Community Room)
300 L Street, Antioch

This is your chance to shape the future of public safety in Antioch—don’t miss it!

En Español

¡Ayuda a dar forma al futuro del liderazgo policial de Antioch!

La ciudad de Antioch busca a su próximo Jefe de Policía y queremos conocer tu opinión. Únete a nuestra Reunión Comunitaria para compartir las cualidades y la experiencia que consideras esenciales en el futuro líder de nuestras fuerzas de seguridad.

Jueves, 20 de febrero de 2025
6:30 PM
Departamento de Policía de Antioch (Sala Comunitaria)
300 L Street, Antioch

¡Esta es tu oportunidad de moldear el futuro de la seguridad pública en Antioch—no te lo pierdas!

Inspired by his late uncle, a Pittsburg cop, to pursue a law enforcement career, Antioch native Desmond Bittner worked “his way up through the ranks” from cadet

By Antioch Police Department

During a ceremony at the Antioch Police Facility on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, Interim Chief Joe Vigil administered the oath of office to the department’s new Captain Desmond Bittner.

The chief said and later posted on the APD Facebook page, “Today we are excited to announce the promotion of Captain Desmond Bittner.

A true Antioch native, Captain Desmond Bittner has dedicated his entire law enforcement career to the Antioch Police Department—starting as a police Cadet (then called the Explorer program) and working his way up through the ranks to Captain!

Over the years, Captain Bittner has:
Served in Investigations
Been a Recruit Training Officer at the academy
Led the SWAT team as Commander
Overseen Field Services & Operations
(But you won’t catch him in Traffic or Canine—he doesn’t like writing tickets and is allergic to dogs!)

With a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration, plus advanced leadership training, Captain Bittner is a well-respected leader in the department.

Outside of work, he:
Coaches his son’s baseball team
Practices Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Once competed professionally in CrossFit!

During the ceremony, Chief Vigil shared about the new captain:

“Captain Desmond Bittner was born and raised in the City of Antioch. He began his law enforcement career with the Antioch Police Department as a police cadet. While working as a Community Service Officer, he was hired as a police officer. Throughout his time in the Antioch Police Department, Captain Bittner has been promoted through the ranks and has served as a Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and most recently acted as Captain.

“Throughout his career Captain Bittner has worked in investigations, been a recruit training officer at the police academy, and has served as the departments Special Weapons and Tactics commander. He has overseen field services and operations and has never worked in traffic or canine because he does not like writing tickets and is allergic to dogs.

“Captain Bitter has also completed Management School and participated in California’s Police Officers Standards and Training Leadership and Wellness Symposium.

“He has been married to his wife Kristel for the last twenty-one years and they have a fourteen-year-old son named Patton. In his spare time Captain Bittner enjoys managing his son’s baseball team and practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu. In his younger years, Captain Bittner competed professionally in the world of sports and fitness, which we know to be CrossFit.

“Fun Fact: Captain Bittner met his wife Kristel when they were just eight years old!

Join us in celebrating Captain Bittner’s leadership and dedication to our community!”

As previously reported, Vigil administered the oath of office to Bittner, along with two new officers, Canaan Lutu and Charise Holloway. The chief later led them, new Dispatcher Paige Garner and part-time Records Technician Sirinity Burkett in reciting the International Association of Chiefs of Police Oath of Honor.

Bittner then shared some thoughts and thanks for the promotion.

Offers Thanks, Says He Was Inspired by Late Uncle – a Former Pittsburg Cop
When reached for comment about his promotion Bittner said, “First and foremost, as a Christian, I always thank God first in looking over my family and the department and guiding me in my career.”

He then shared what he said at the ceremony.

“I thanked Chief Vigil for the promotion,” the new captain stated. “I invited the retired APD officers I worked with through my career and thanked them and made sure they know they’d never be forgotten. I also invited some officers from the Pittsburg PD and thanked them for all they do for the City of Antioch and our department.”

“I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Pittsburg PD,” Bittner continued. “My uncle Norm Bittner worked for Pittsburg PD in the 1980’s. He was instrumental in me becoming interested in law enforcement. He passed away some years ago. It’s always been a big part of my life.”

“I also gave thanks to all the staff I’ve worked with through the years who worked under me and always made me look good as a lieutenant,” he added.

The new captain is one of two currently on the Antioch Police force including Captain Matt Koch. Bittner currently oversees Support Services which include investigations, Internal Affairs, training, recruiting and dispatch. Koch oversees Field Services, which includes patrol, SWAT, the Crisis Negotiation Team, the UAS-Unmanned Aerial System (drone) Team, traffic and volunteers.

“There will be a third one, soon,” Bittner stated. “They’re creating a new division in for the agreement with DOJ, which should be operational sometime in July.” That captain will take on some of Bittner’s responsibilities “to spread out the work,” he added.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.