On Thursday, Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton issued a statement after her office chose not to file murder charges against a man who shot and killed a Chevron store clerk in the city of Antioch.
The Antioch Police Department say the incident occurred on November 26 at 2:05 am and called it a “botched robbery” that turned into a gunfight in the parking lot of Chevron which left store clerk James Williams dead and Ronald Benjamin Jackson, III wounded.
According to Antioch Police spokesperson Ashley Crandell, she explained Wednesday during a press conference that during their investigation, they learned Williams chased after the suspects exiting the store and into the parking lot where he fired shots at both suspects. He did hit one of the suspects, striking Ronald Jackson Jr in the leg who then returned fire striking Williams in the chest and in the leg. Williams was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Jackson showed up at a house on Seville Circle where a resident advised someone had been shot there. Police said Jackson was transported to a local hospital and is in stable condition. The second suspect is not in custody nor has been identified.
Police said they presented this case to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, and he has been charged with robbery, possession of stolen property, and a firearm enhancement.
D.A. Becton’s Statement on the Charging Decision of Ronald Benjamin Jackson, III
The family, friends, and loved ones of James Williams are understandably devastated by the shocking news of his death in a gun battle at the Chevron station in Antioch on November 26th — where he worked as a store clerk. Our sympathies and condolences go out to those closest to him.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office declined to file murder charges in this case solely on a legal and factual determination — and not an elective, optional, or discretionary one. It was based upon an established law that clearly states a person cannot pursue another to retrieve stolen property once the threat of bodily injury or harm to the victim has subsided.
The video evidence of the incident clearly shows Ronald Benjamin Jackson, III, and another suspect exiting the Chevron station convenience store after the robbery and running from the scene. Mr. Williams is also seen in the video footage leaving the Chevron station store with a firearm while running after the robbers. Mr. Williams then fired upon Mr. Jackson, hitting him in the leg while he was fleeing and causing him to fall to the ground. Mr. Williams continued to approach Mr. Jackson with his firearm pointing at him when Mr. Jackson fired shots at Williams hitting him twice. Once in the chest and in the leg.
In the eyes of the law, Mr. Williams’ actions ceased to be self-defense when Mr. Williams pursued Mr. Jackson and the other suspect with a firearm — and continued to pursue Mr. Jackson after he shot him.
The legal distinction is clear: when your property and life are being threatened, an individual is legally justified in using deadly force in self-defense. However, once the threat of harm has dissipated, the victim of a property crime cannot then use deadly force to reclaim stolen property.
However, the reality of Mr. Williams’ tragic death will be a substantial factor in the DA’s position in asking for greater penalties in the sentencing of the defendants.
Diana Becton,
District Attorney of Contra Costa County.
UPDATE – 8 PM Press Conference
- FILE: 22-8552
- INCIDENT: Robbery – Homicide
- DATE OF INCIDENT: November 26, 2022
- TIME OF INCIDENT: 2:05 am
- LOCATION: 2701 Contra Loma Boulevard (Chevron / Extra Mile)
- VICTIM(S): James Williams, 36-year-old
- SUSPECT(S): Ronald Jackson Jr., 20-year-old
Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925)778-2441, or Detective Duffy at 925-779-6890 / [email protected]. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH
Known 2022 Shootings
- Nov. 26: Antioch Police Say Store Clerk Shot and Killed in “Botched” Robbery
- Nov. 14: Man Shot After Attempting to Remove Unknown Guest from Family Party in Antioch
- Oct. 30: CHP Investigating Sunday Morning Shooting on Highway 4 Near Hillcrest in Antioch
- Oct. 23: Antioch Apartment Building Struck by Gunfire Sunday Night
- Oct. 19: Antioch Police Investigating Shooting After Vehicle Crash on E 18th Street
- Oct. 9: 18-Year-Old Shot and Killed in Antioch
- Sept.16: Man Shot After Domestic Dispute in Antioch Thursday Afternoon
- Sept. 5: Man Shot Dead in Antioch in Drive-by Style Shooting (homicide)
- Aug 30: Man Shot Monday Outside Hudson Court Apartments in Antioch
- Aug 19: Suspect in Custody After Shots Fired Near Jack London Elementary in Antioch
- July 21: 1 Dead, 1 Wounded in Overnight Shooting in City of Antioch
- June 27: Antioch Police Investigating Three Weekend Shootings
- May 20: Attempted Robbery in Antioch Leads to One Dead, Another Wounded
- May 15: Antioch Police Investigating Sunday Shooting on Wilbur Ave
- April 20: Antioch Apartment Complex Shot Up, Pastor Releases Statement
- April 10: Man Wounded Several Times in Monday Morning Shooting in Antioch
- April 1: Man Shows up at Hospital With Gunshot Wound
- March 28: 16-Year-Old Shot Near Deer Valley High School Prompts Brief Lockdown
- March 14: At least 10 gunshots in the area of E. Madill Street with subject shot
- March 13: Male shot at Clayburn and Lone Tree Way – walks into hospital with multiple gunshot wounds.
- Feb 25: Antioch Police Say Single Shot Fired in Overnight 7-Eleven Robbery on Hillcrest
- Feb 24: Antioch Police Investigating Overnight Shooting on Longhorn Way
- Feb 15: Female Shot in the hand in 700 block of F Street
- Feb 13: Subject arrived at hospital with gunshot wound. Area of Highway 4 or Larskpur area (no info by APD or CHP)
- Feb 8: 76-Year-Old Woman Fatally Shot, Antioch Police Seek Public Assistance (Homicide 4)
- Feb 6: Female Shot in the hand (J Street)
- Feb 2: Antioch Police Announce Arrest in Shootout on Peppertree Way
- Feb 1: Antioch Police Investigate Shooting on Madill Court (Homicide 2 & 3)
- Jan 24: Updated: Antioch Police Investigating Fatal Shooting on Delta Fair Blv (Homicide 1)
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