Shooting suspect Ryan Hardy is sought by Antioch Police. Photo: Antioch PD
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.
The Antioch Police SWAT standoff on E. 6th Street Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2025, included multiple officers pointing their guns at the house where the armed suspect was barricaded and the Brentwood Police Bearcat Rescue Vehicle. Photo by Allen D. Payton. The armed suspect, Matthew Jeff Britt, Jr., who surrendered peacefully, can be seen in previous arrest photos. Source (left & center) OffenderRadar.com and (right) California Megan’s Law Website.
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.
Antioch Police officer points his gun at the house where the armed suspect was barricaded. Photo by Allen D. Payton
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.
Antioch Police blocked off East 6th Street at A Street. Photo by Allen D. Payton
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.
Matthew J. Britt’s information on the California Megan’s Law Website. Screenshot
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.
Emergency personnel attend to the victim of a stabbing in Antioch on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. Photo by ContraCosta.news
The two were acquaintances
UPDATE: Suspect identified as Lizbeth Verdad Noonan
By Lt. Joe Njoroge #7052, Antioch Police Field Services Division
Publisher’s Note: This Antioch Police press release issued on Dec. 7 was stuck in the system of the City’s website which has been undergoing updates and was not provided to the media until Dec. 30.
On Sunday, December 7, 2025, shortly after 8:00 a.m., Antioch Police Department officers responded to a report of a 45-year-old man who had been stabbed inside a residence near E. 16th Street and A Street. Upon arrival, officers were informed the victim was still inside the home. Officers entered the residence, located the man suffering from stab wounds, and provided medical aid until personnel from Con Fire arrived. He was transported to a local hospital and remains in stable condition.
Through the course of the investigation, officers identified the suspect as a 22-year-old woman. She was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Martinez Detention Facility.
According to Lt. Bill Whitaker the two were acquaintances.
UPDATE: According to the Antioch Police Adult Arrest report, her name is Lizbeth Verdad Noonan who is White, 5’3″ tall, 120 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes. She was arrested and taken into custody that same day at 11:00 AM at Sutter Delta Medical Center, 3901 Lone Tree Way. Noonan was charged with inflicting corporal injury on a spouse/cohabitant/dating relationship – aggravated, a felony, and assault with a deadly weapon: not a firearm – aggravated, also a felony.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Antioch Police Department at tips@antiochca.gov.
Stolen merchandise recovered during the CHP’s “Operation Silent Night” targeting an organized retail theft ring. Photos: California Highway Patrol
Executed in Richmond, 3 other cities, recovers 44,140 stolen items worth more than $800K
12 from Oakland and 53-year-old El Sobrante woman who was previously arrested in 2023 for grand theft and organized retail theft
By Officer Ruben Jones, PIO, CHP Valley Division
SACRAMENTO — Thirteen suspects were arrested, and more than $800,000 in stolen merchandise was recovered following a coordinated, multi-agency operation targeting an organized retail theft network operating across Northern California.
In September, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Valley Division Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF) was alerted to a pair of retail theft suspects who stole merchandise in Placer County and at multiple other locations throughout the state. The Valley Division ORCTF includes investigators from the CHP, Sacramento Police Department and the Placer County District Attorney’s Office.
On October 1, the Rocklin Police Department conducted a traffic stop involving the suspects and requested assistance from the Valley Division ORCTF. During the investigation, the suspects provided information identifying individuals who were purchasing stolen merchandise from them and reselling it for profit. Investigators also learned the stolen goods were being distributed and sold at flea markets in Oakland, San Jose, Galt, Modesto and Stockton.
Based on this information, ORCTF investigators conducted surveillance operations that corroborated the suspects’ statements and established links among the theft suspects, those purchasing and reselling the stolen merchandise, and the flea-market distribution locations. Investigators subsequently obtained multiple search warrants covering six residences, three storage lockers, and one storage lot.
On December 11, a coordinated multi-agency enforcement effort, Operation Silent Night, was executed in Oakland, Richmond, San Leandro and Galt. The operation resulted in the arrest of 13 suspects. Investigators seized two firearms, more than $10,000 in cash, five vans, two passenger vehicles and two trailers. More than 400 boxes and 200 bags of stolen merchandise were recovered, including cosmetics, household goods, clothing, power tools, toys, alcohol, and diapers. All suspects were transported to the Placer County Jail for booking.
Stolen merchandise recovered. Photo: CHP
On December 12, Cal Expo provided an exposition hall to assist with the processing and cataloging of the recovered merchandise. In partnership with affected retailers, investigators documented a total of 44,140 stolen items valued in excess of $800,000.
The following are those who were taken into custody:
Bach Ngoc Thi Bui, 53, El Sobrante
Isaid Garcia Chapas, 41, Oakland
Irene Cruz Barragan, 35, Oakland
Daniela Cruz Barragan, 33, Oakland
Robert Lorenzo Luna-Varela, 34, Oakland
Jefferson Isaed Garcia-Rivera, 22, Oakland
Jennifer Garcia Cruz, 19, Oakland
Elan Rosales Montes, 35, Oakland
Claudia Ivet Cruz Barragan, 42, Oakland
Yolanda Carrillo Martinez, 45, Oakland
Ivan Miranda Espinoza, 33, Oakland
Yuridia Sandoval Ramirez, 35, Oakland
Eryn Wilfred Corea Guevara, 29, Oakland
“Organized retail theft is not a victimless crime. It impacts businesses, workers, and communities across California. This investigation highlights the strength of collaboration between law enforcement and our retail partners, and our commitment to holding organized theft networks accountable.”- CHP Valley Division Chief Tyler Eccles
The Placer County District Attorney’s Office announced on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, the filing of criminal charges of organized retail theft, conspiracy to commit felony crimes, receiving stolen property, among numerous allegations against the 13 defendants.
The charges stem from numerous thefts that had occurred within Placer County that culminated in a multiple agency operation last week in Oakland that recovered over $700,000 worth of stolen merchandise and extensive counterfeit merchandise. This collaborative investigation and prosecution is made possible by Placer County’s retail theft initiative.
The defendants appeared in court that afternoon and defense attorneys were appointed to represent them. The next court date was scheduled for December 22 in Department 20 at 8:30 am.
Since the ORCTF’s inception in 2019, the CHP has been involved in over 4,200 investigations, leading to the arrest of more than 4,700 suspects and the recovery of nearly 1.5 million stolen goods valued at over $68.7 million statewide as of November 30.
According to localcrimenews.com, Bui is a female and was also arrested by the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department in August 2023 when she was a Pittsburg resident for conspiracy to commit a crime, grand theft, receiving or concealing stolen property and organized retail theft.
The CHP extends its appreciation to all participating law enforcement agencies, task force members, Cal Expo, and retail partners whose collaboration led to the success of this investigation. The case remains ongoing.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service,and Security.
Antioch Police and Con Fire personnel responded to the scene of the fatal collision causing a back-up in the eastbound lanes of Highway 4 between Pittsburg and Antioch Monday morning, Dec. 22, 2025. Video screenshot courtesy of Spotlight CoCoCounty.
Following collision involving DA Senior Inspector killing Antioch assault suspect running on Hwy 4; CHP leads investigation
By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office
Martinez, California – A fatal traffic collision with a pedestrian is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol pursuant to the County Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Incident Protocol.
On Monday, December 22, 2025, at approximately 10:35 a.m., in the area of Delta Fair Blvd. in Antioch, a suspect engaged in a disturbance at Delta Bowl. According to Antioch Police, the initial incident occurred at the Comfort Inn, located at 2436 Mahogany Way, where the 27-year-old male suspect had pulled a fire alarm and then struck a 47-year-old male security guard. As police responded, the suspect climbed over a fence and entered eastbound Highway 4 on foot.
The individual was struck in the roadway by an oncoming county vehicle driven by a District Attorney Senior Inspector whose duties were unrelated to the disturbance. The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The California Highway Patrol is the venue agency conducting the traffic collision investigation. The California Department of Justice has been notified. The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office has yielded legal analysis to avoid a potential conflict of interest. The investigation is ongoing.
By Lt. Franco Cesar #7264, Antioch Police Field Services Division
On December 18, 2025, at 8:46 p.m., Antioch Police Department officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 2700 block of Entrada Circle. Upon arrival, officers located a 17-year-old male suffering from a gunshot wound.
Officers immediately began providing medical aid until personnel from Con Fire arrived on scene. The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
During the investigation, officers identified the suspect as a 14-year-old male, who was taken into custody at the scene for Negligent Discharge of a Firearm.
According to Bay New Video, “Thursday night Antioch police responded to…reports of a shooting. When they arrived, they found one juvenile that had been accidentally shot in the face by his cousin. Witnesses said the bullet entered the cheek and exited the back of the neck. The victim was transported to a local hospital. The cousin was taken into custody by Antioch police. There has been in the city of Antioch over the past year a reduction of violent crime…Tonight’s shooting was an unfortunate accident.”
The investigation into this incident remains ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Antioch Police Department at tips@antiochca.gov.
The Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate a homicide that occurred on Monday, December 15, 2025, at 8:04 a.m. at a home on the 5100 block Laurel Drive in unincorporated Concord.
Valley Station deputy sheriffs responded to a welfare check and found a resident of the home deceased on the property. Detectives believe the incident began as a domestic issue when a family dispute escalated into an altercation. Three others who suffered from injuries were transported to a local hospital.
The victim is identified as 38-year-old Antonio Valdez of Antioch. A person in the home who suffered injuries remains in the hospital.
The Investigation Division Homicide Unit and Crime Lab responded to the scene. Detectives believe the incident began as a domestic issue when a family dispute escalated into an altercation. There are no outstanding suspects and no threat to the public.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.
Agreement aligns with U.S. DOJ reforms; subject to court approval; this part of case only includes attorney’s fees
By Allen D. Payton
The City of Antioch announced Friday morning, Dec. 19, 2025, it has reached a settlement agreement “that strengthens accountability and transparency in the Antioch Police Department (APD) through updated policies, independent oversight and measurable reporting. The agreement is structured to align with the U.S. Department of Justice Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) governing APD reforms.”
Oakland civil rights attorney John Burris and associates filed the lawsuit in April 2023, naming five then-current and former officers, for their racist and other offensive texts and mistreatment of citizens, plus, three past police chiefs, the City of Antioch and Does 1-100. (See related articles here and here)
The suit described what occurred between the named Antioch Police officers and the plaintiffs as a “conspiracy and/or conspiracies” and claims they were “the failure and/or refusal (by the former chiefs)…to prevent or aid in preventing” them from occurring. The suit further claimed the four department leaders “maintained customs, policies, and/or practices which encouraged, authorized, condoned, ratified, failed to prevent, and/or failed to aid in the prevention of wrongs conspired to be done by” the named officers.
The suit sought multiple forms of damages including “past, present and/or future wage loss, income and support, medical expenses”; special damages, any and all permissible statutory damages, and attorneys’ fees.
UPDATE & CORRECTION: According to City Manager Bessie Scott, the settlement does not include any money. But she later shared the City will pay attorney’s fees. Then during the press conference on Friday, Dec. 19, Burris said, “There were two parts of the case, one involving the individuals, which we settled, 23,” earlier in the year. Those did involve payments which will be reported on later once City staff has provided a response to the Public Records Act request by the Herald.
Independent Consultant to Oversee Settlement Provisions
The settlement will be administered by the same independent consultant responsible for oversight under the U.S. DOJ MOA to ensure coordinated implementation and consistent monitoring.
The independent consultant will oversee APD’s implementation of the settlement’s provisions, including providing technical assistance, reviewing affected policies, and issuing regular reports on APD’s progress toward substantial compliance. The independent consultant will also ensure APD remains in substantial compliance for the required period of time. If APD is not making adequate progress, the monitor may seek further orders of the court to compel compliance.
The independent consultant is required to report to the City Council every six months. Reports to Council will be public. The City also anticipates public reporting related to community engagement/community policing efforts and statistics on traffic stops and police interactions related to use of force.
“This settlement agreement reinforces the reform work already underway, ensures sustainable transparency measures and updates core policies to modernize how APD continues to provide constitutional policing services to the residents of Antioch,” said Scott.
“This agreement will ensure we continue prioritizing the community and safety,” said Chief of Police Joe Vigil. “We will continue working towards greater transparency, accountability and community engagement as we work through this agreement.”
Chief Vigil Says “Agreement Emphasizes Clear and Fair Policy”
In his remarks prepared for and offered during the press conference, Vigil further said, “I want to begin by thanking Mr. Burris and his staff, The City of Antioch staff, Mr. Rosenbaum and his staff. Through a collaborative and productive process, we reached an agreement that will help ensure the Police Department continues to improve how we approach policy, how we conduct our work, and how we serve our community.
“This agreement emphasizes clear and fair policy, the use of data, metrics, and analysis to guide decision-making, with community trust and public safety as our top priorities. As we move into the new year, we remain committed to ongoing community engagement and to strengthening transparency and accountability. Thank you, and I appreciate everyone’s time and partnership.”
Key elements of the settlement include:
Expanded transparency and oversight
Data collection and analysis requirements
Audits and reviews
Reporting requirements to track progress and compliance
Policy and procedure updates to modernize APD operations
Non-discriminatory policing
Use of force, including canine deployment
Hiring and promotions
Complaint intake, review, and resolution
Supervisor responsibilities and accountability
Police officer communications
Body-worn camera use
Community engagement
Provisions to expand APD’s community engagement and support accountability through public-facing practices.
The City will provide additional information as implementation milestones are established.
Jaden Baird, City of Antioch PIO contributed to this report.
