Antioch Police Sgt. Rick Hoffman and Sgt. Matt Koch talk at the scene of the shooting at Williamson Ranch Park on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022. Photos courtesy of Mike Burkholder

Police seek unknown suspects in car seen at the scene; city’s 9th homicide of the year

By Lieutenant John Fortner, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

APD officer vehicles responded to Williamson Ranch Park on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022.

On Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, at approximately 11:22 AM, the Antioch Police Department Dispatch Center started receiving numerous 9-1-1 calls reporting multiple gunshots being fired at Williamson Ranch Park, located at 5000 Lone Tree Way.

As officers were responding to the scene, witnesses called to report a subject running from the park and entering the near-by Walmart. Additional officers immediately responded to the Walmart, and with the assistance of several citizens, were able to quickly locate and safely detain the subject. The subject was determined to be a juvenile and in possession of a loaded firearm.

When officers arrived at the park, they located one male juvenile victim near the parking lot suffering from several gunshot wounds. Evidence at the scene indicated the incident occurred outdoors in the east portion of the parking lot. Officers immediately began administering first aid and called for emergency fire department and AMR paramedics. The victim was transported to a local area hospital emergency room, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.

Prior to police arrival, a dark colored sedan was seen leaving the parking lot of the park at a high rate of speed. During the preliminary investigation, it appears the victim, and the subject detained at the Walmart, arrived together on-foot, and met with the occupants of a dark colored sedan in the parking lot. Shortly afterwards, multiple shots were fired from, and/or around, the dark colored sedan.

Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau, consisting of Crime Scene Investigators, and detectives with the Violent Crimes and Special Operations Units, responded to the scene and took over the investigation.

Currently, detectives are interviewing witnesses and residents in the area and are working to identify any suspects or persons-of-interest. The investigation is still active, and evidence is being collected.

The death is the city’s ninth homicide of the year according to the City of Antioch 2022 Crime Statistics, which don’t show last month’s shooting death of a gas station convenience store clerk. According to Lt. John Fortner, the victim was from a community just outside of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441, or Detective Cox at (925) 779-6866. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Part of annual international competition

Photo: Knights of Columbus

All boys and girls ages 8 to 14 are invited to participate in the local level of competition for the Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship.  Age eligibility is determined by the age of the contestant as of January 1, 2023.  Proof of age is required (please bring a copy of your birth certificate).

The competitions will be held on January 13, 2023, at Giovannoni Parish Center, 21 East 15th St., Antioch.

Free Throw Championship

Ages 8-11        Registration at 5:30pm            Competition begins at 6:00pm

Ages 12-14      Registration at 6:30pm            Competition begins after 8 to 11-year-old competitors are done

The Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship is sponsored annually, with winners progressing through local, district, and jurisdictional competitions. International champions are announced by the Knights of Columbus international headquarters based on scores from the jurisdiction-level competitions.

For more information contact: Wayne Steffen 925.890.0119 or Mike Hayes 925.565.4482

Council #3265 in Antioch is one of 17,000 Knights of Columbus councils that make up the world’s largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in 1882 to assist working-class and immigrant Catholics in the United States, today the approximately two million members of the Knights put their faith into action through a broad range of charitable causes locally, nationally and internationally with financial contributions and hands-on service.

Will give away hundreds of prizes to participants

The Antioch Recreation Department is partnering with the Golden State Warriors to offer a Holiday Basketball Clinic for local youth on Saturday, December 10th. We thought that your news outlet may be interested in attending and wanted to formally invite you to the event. The clinic is sold out with 80 children registered.

Golden State Warriors Academy coaches will put players through a series of drill stations followed by games and competitions. The clinic will conclude with a performance from the Golden State Warriors Dunk Team. The Warriors are donating hundreds of prizes for all players that participate in the event.

The clinic takes place from 10am-12pm at the Antioch Community Center in Prewett Family Park, 4703 Lone Tree Way.

Fabulous Feet Dance Studio presents their Winter Ballet Performance of “Alice in Winter Wonderland” Sunday, Dec. 18 at Heritage High School in Brentwood. The ballet begins at 4:00 p.m.

Artistic Directors Kimberley Karbowski and Denise Williams.

Tickets are $20 each and available at Eventbrite.

For more information about the studio visit Fabulous Feet Dance Studio or their Facebook page.

The Antioch High Boys Cross Country team recently won the BVAL title. They are (from left to right) Juan Castro, Braulio Perez, Luis Vazquez, Jose Jimenez, Albert Wong, George Villalobos and Caleb Headley-Pouard. Photo by Trine Gallegos

By Trine Gallegos, Communications/Community Outreach, Antioch High School

AHS Boys Cross Country team members celebrate their championship.  Photo: AUSD

The Antioch High Boys Cross Country team is still happily reeling from its victory at the Nov. 9 BVAL meet. Held at Contra Loma Reservoir, the seven-member group went into the race as the only undefeated team and ran away with its first championship in 34 years for a boys’ team.

Coach Willie Berger was nervous as he waited for the announcement. The news of the win bought out an array of cheers and tears from the entire team, family and assistant coach Brenda Gutierrez.

“They’ve worked so hard and are so deserving,” Berger said.

The boys beat out the favored Heritage High by just one point.

A Nov. 9 post on the Antioch Unified School District Facebook page congratulated the team.

“It’s been 34 years in the making. Hearing the news over the mic was followed by joyful cheers, spirited yelling and happy tears by many.  The boys went to the big meet as the only undefeated team.

Berger knows the feeling of being a student athlete. A Class of 2004 grad, he was a cross country team member.

Congrats to these mighty Panthers and the entire team for a great season.”

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

AHS Boys Cross Country team members celebrate and get hugs from Coach Willie Berger on Nov. 9, 2022. Photos: AUSD