Antioch Police responded to a shooting victim located in the Sycamore Square shopping center on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. Video screenshot from unknown source courtesy of ContraCosta.news.
By Lt. Matthew Koch #3018, Antioch Police Field Services Division
Antioch Police Department detectives are investigating a shooting that sent one man to the hospital. On November 10th, at approximately 2:55 PM, Antioch police officers responded to reports of shots fired around Sycamore Drive and Peppertree Way. As officers arrived on the scene, they located evidence of a shooting in the roadway between Peppertree Way and Lemontree Way.
Officers found a 23-year-old man inside Sycamore Square suffering from at least one gunshot wound. Officers performed medical aid until relieved by ConFire paramedics. The victim was transported to a hospital, where he is listed in critical but stable condition.
It’s the 21st shooting in the city since Sept. 2nd which has claimed the lives of two young men and the fourth since the city council approved the Violence Reduction Initiative focused on both the Sycamore corridor and Cavallo Road neighborhood. Of the total, 18 shootings have occurred in the Sycamore corridor.
Has history of arrests including for same crimes in 2021
By Lt. Joe Njoroge #7052, Antioch Police Field Services Division
A nearly eight-hour standoff with an armed man ended with the suspect being arrested by the APD SWAT team. On November 8th, at approximately 3:43 p.m., Antioch police officers responded to reports of an assault with a deadly weapon, felony domestic violence, kidnapping, robbery, and violation of a court order in the 1000 block of Stonecrest Drive.
It was reported that a woman had been assaulted, kidnapped, and robbed by the suspect. Officers arrived on the scene and found the 47-year-old female victim outside the home. The suspect was believed to be armed and had barricaded himself inside the home. Officers also discovered that the suspect had violated the terms of a court order during the incident and had several unrelated felony arrest warrants for violating the terms of his probation.
Officers attempted to negotiate with the man for several hours, but he refused to comply with commands and even displayed a large knife at officers. The Antioch Police Department Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) and Antioch Police Department SWAT team responded to the home and continued negotiations.
At 11:46 p.m., the APD SWAT team took the suspect, 61-year-old Tony Lamar Watson (born 6/16/63) of Antioch, into custody. He was transported to a hospital for further medical evaluation and later booked into the county jail for the charges of assault with a deadly weapon – force, felony domestic violence, kidnapping, robbery, violation of court order, resisting arrest and felony warrants.
According to Interim Police Chief Brian Addington the suspect lives at the home and the victim has a restraining order against him. “She has a court order against him to stay away,” he said. “But she was over there at his place.”
During the standoff, the police department issued a public notice to avoid the area and for all residents in the area to shelter in place. The notice read, “Please avoid the 1000-block of Stonecrest Drive due to police activity. Officers are working a contained emergency situation and need the area kept clear for first responders. There is no threat to the public. All residents in this area are asked to shelter in place until further notice. Please do not call 9-1-1 unless you are reporting an emergency.” It was later lifted following the end of the standoff and arrrest.
According to localcrimenews.com, Watson has a history of arrests dating back to 2018 by Antioch PD and the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department for crimes including battery on a spouse, co-habitant, former spouse; battery on a person, shoplifting, assault with a deadly weapon or assault with force likely to produce great bodily harm, robbery, and resisting, obstruct or delaying a peace officer. In February this year he was arrested for burglary, disobeying a domestic relations court order, conspiracy to commit a crime and lying to police.
Antioch PD dispatchers then received additional reports of another shooting on Auto Center Drive near Century Boulevard. Officers arrived and discovered evidence of a shooting. One victim reported that their vehicle had been struck by gunfire.
Based on the preliminary investigation, the two shootings appear to be related. Antioch police investigators are looking for the vehicles and the suspects involved. Evidence also indicates that the vehicle collision was not directly involved in the shooting on Sycamore Drive. The driver veered off the roadway to avoid the gunfire. No other victims have come forward at this time.
An earlier shooting Tuesday, also occurred in the Sycamore Drive area at approximately 12:42 p.m. in which an 18-year-old male was injured.
The latest two shootings are the 19th and 20th in the city since Sept. 2nd, which claimed the lives of two men. They’re the second and third shootings since the city council approved the Violence Reduction Initiative focused on both the Sycamore corridor and Cavallo Road neighborhood.
17th in city since Sept. 2nd, first since council approved Violence Reduction Initiative
By Lt. Matthew Koch #3018, Antioch Police Field Services Division
On Tuesday, November 05, 2024, at approximately 12:42 PM, Antioch police officers responded to reports of shots fired in the area of Sycamore Drive and Peppertree Way. Officers arrived on scene and located evidence of a shooting in the 2100 block of Peppertree Way. While officers canvassed the scene, an 18-year-old male victim arrived at a local hospital suffering from a gunshot wound.
Through the investigation, it was determined the victim was at the scene of the shooting. The 18-year-old victim is in critical but stable condition and is expected to survive. This case is in the preliminary stages and the names of the parties involved are not being released at this time.
The shooting is the 17th in the city since September 2nd which claimed the lives of two men. It’s the first since the council approved the Violence Reduction Initiative paying up to $200 per hour for overtime to outside agency officers and for the use of their equipment and focused on both the Sycamore corridor and Cavallo Road neighborhood. The initiative is designed to assist the “understaffed, overworked police department”, according to District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker in whose district 16 of the shootings have occurred.
Antioch resident Gabriel Ryan Henry arrested on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. Photo: Benicia PD
Has history of arrests dating back to 2014, twice for shoplifting less than $950; already out of custody
By Benicia Police Department
During the late night hours on Sunday, Nov. 3rd, officers made contact with a driver for multiple vehicle code violations in the 1900 Block of E. 2nd Street. During the initial conversation officers noticed a meth pipe visible in the vehicle. Upon further search, the suspect, 48-year-old male out of Antioch, Gabriel Ryan Henry was found to be in possession of methamphetamine.
Also found were Norco pill (without prescription), burglary tools, multiple plastic bottles smelling of gasoline, a collection of flexible hoses, bolt cutters, and approximately $500 of stolen groceries from the Benicia Safeway. The suspect’s car was impounded, and he was arrested and booked into County Jail without incident.
The five-foot, nine-inch tall, 230-pound Hispanic suspect was charged with the following crimes:
According to localcrimenews.com, Henry’s bail was set at $7,500 and has a history of arrests by dating back to 2014 by multiple agencies including Concord PD, Walnut Creek PD, Clayton PD, Dublin PD and the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office. He was charged with a variety of crimes including petty theft, drug possession, receiving or concealing stolen property and shoplifting.
Antioch Police responded to a go-cart accident and had the incident area taped off on North Lake Drive, Saturday night, Nov. 2, 2024. Photo courtesy of a resident who chose to remain anonymous.
By Lt. Joe Njoroge #7052, Antioch Police Field Services Division
On November 02, 2024, at approximately 7:56 PM, Antioch Police officers responded to reports of a solo go-cart collision on N. Lake Drive. Upon arrival, officers found the 54-year-old male (unknown resident) driver of the go-cart on the ground, suffering from major injuries and unresponsive. Officers on scene immediately provided medical assistance to the driver until paramedics arrived. The driver was thereafter transported to an area hospital where he is currently being treated.
Traffic Accident Investigators took over the investigation. This collision investigation is in the preliminary stages and the names of the parties involved are not being released at this time.
Based on preliminary information at the scene, it was determined the go-cart driver was traveling eastbound on N. Lake Drive at a high rate of speed and collided with a parked vehicle after veering off the roadway.
According to a resident who chose to remain anonymous a neighbor said, “I thought someone had died. There was blood everywhere.”
“APD towed a go-cart, I was told,” the resident continued. “Someone always driving around Lake Alhambra in a go-cart. Those don’t belong on the street!!!”
Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441 or Traffic Collision Investigator Sergeant Green at 925-779-6864, email rgreen@antiochca.gov.
Sideshow at W. 10th Street and Auto Center Drive on Saturday night, May 29, 2021. Source: Antioch PDdrone video screenshot
Helps fund the STREET III – Sideshow, Takeover, Racing, Education, and Enforcement Taskforce
By CHP Media Relations
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) received $2 million in federal funding that will expand its major crackdown on dangerous sideshows and street racing statewide, holding participants and organizers accountable for reckless driving behaviors.
Federal funding for the Sideshow, Takeover, Racing, Education, and Enforcement Taskforce (STREET III) grant comes after the CHP received $5.5 million in state funding to combat illegal street racing and sideshow activities, resulting in a 40% decrease in illegal sideshow incidents from 2021 to 2022. The STREET III grant aims to reduce the number of fatal and injury traffic crashes attributed to reckless driving, street racing, and sideshows. The CHP will implement a public awareness campaign to tackle these unlawful activities and conduct specialized enforcement operations such as excessive speeding behaviors where motorists are traveling more than 100 mph on state highways. Last year, CHP officers participating in specialized speed enforcement operations from January 2023 to July 2024 issued over 30,000 citations to motorists exceeding 100 mph.
“Sideshows and street takeovers are reckless, criminal activities that endanger our communities and make streets less safe. We have seen too many people killed or hurt at these illegal events. California will continue to ramp up our efforts to crack down on sideshows. For anyone considering attending a sideshow: know that not only do you risk getting hurt at these events, but you also risk the potential loss of your vehicle,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.
Since February, the CHP has made 1,125 arrests, seized 110 illegal guns, and recovered more than 2,000 stolen vehicles in Alameda County and the East Bay alone. Last month, Governor Newsom signed four bills into law that impose stricter penalties and strengthen law enforcement’s ability to combat sideshows and street takeovers.
“The CHP’s top priority is the safety of our communities. This new grant allows us to strengthen our efforts in addressing the growing issues of sideshows and illegal street racing, which endanger lives and disrupt neighborhoods,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee.“By increasing patrols, deploying advanced technology, and partnering with local organizations, we are committed to making our roads safer and holding those responsible for reckless driving accountable.”
Alongside allied agencies, the CHP established task forces to tackle the challenges posed by street racing and sideshows. In addition, social media initiatives have been introduced to enhance public awareness regarding the dangers associated with aggressive driving behaviors, including illegal street racing and sideshows. The STREET III grant allows for a campaign starting this month through September 30, 2025.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
Antioch Police Officers get instructions then participate in the violence suppression detail on Friday night, Oct. 25, 2024. Photos: APD
In just 4 hours!
By Antioch Police Department
“Since when do you guys do this!?” – Comment from a man arrested last night with a firearm.
Last Friday night’s violence suppression detail saw significant results:
25 traffic stops
2 stolen firearms recovered
8 felony arrests
One pound of marijuana seized
Methamphetamine confiscated
4 vehicles towed
1 stolen vehicle arrest And all within just 4 hours!
Our commitment to this community is unwavering. We’ve launched gun violence suppression teams who will operate in two-man cars, focusing on areas most impacted by gun violence. The families in this community deserve peace, and we are resolute in restoring safety and order here. Special thanks to the Kensington Police Department for joining forces with us to protect our community.
