On Monday, the Antioch Police Department issued an update on four new shootings that occurred recently while correcting statements made by Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe.
Hernandez-Thorpe took to social media to post a video stating the shootings were all related and retaliatory.
“Unfortunately, residents in the Sycamore corridor and off of Cavallo Road, have experienced an unprecedented level of gun violence as a result of a man who was killed on September 2,” stated Hernandez-Thorpe. “Those communities have experienced over two weeks of unnecessary shootings. We believe the shootings are retaliatory in nature and are being investigated as gang rivalries.”
He continued.
“Since this appears to be retaliatory in nature, yesterday another individual was a victim of gun violence around Cavallo Road. These gangs, let me be very clear, these gangs have no regard for human life, no regard for law enforcement, and no regard for you or me.”
Lt. Desmond Bittner confirmed the weekend shootings were not related to the Sycamore corridor shootings and could not say for certain the shootings were all gang related.
Given the Mayor’s comments, Antioch Police issued a formal press release providing an update noting four new shootings had occurred.
Police said of the four shootings, one appears to be related to the shootings that began on September 3rd following the shooting death of Elijah Scales. The related shooting occurred on September 21st at 7:56 pm, in the 1100 block of Sycamore Drive. At least 17 bullets were fired, and three nearby businesses were struck by the gunfire. Fortunately, no one was struck (Report 24-8510).
The three shootings listed below have no relation to the shootings that occurred September 2nd– 16th. We have also determined the shooting that occurred on Monday, September 16th at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds has no relation to the string of shootings.
- Friday, 9/20, 12:27 pm (Cavallo Road at Sunset Drive) – Report 24-8467. An 18-year-old man was shot and killed. A separate press release was sent out by APD 9/20/24.
- Sunday, 9/22, 5:27 am (Carpinteria Drive) – Report 24-8523. Self-inflicted gunshot wound. The man is currently in stable condition.
- Sunday, 9/22, 9:21 am (20 E. 18th Street) – Report 24-8527. At least eight rounds fired. One man was shot and is currently in critical condition. One woman was also shot and has since been treated and released from a local hospital.
The following was released Friday by Antioch Police on the original series of shootings:
The Antioch Police Department is asking for the community’s help in connection with a series of shootings that have plagued our city in the last week.
“This spate of violence will not be tolerated. We have rearranged staffing and assigned two officers to patrol the Sycamore Corridor for at least the next seven days,” said Interim Chief of Police Brian Addington. “This effort aims to reduce gun violence and provide a sense of safety to the community and local businesses.”
On September 2nd, 21-year-old Elijah Scales was shot and killed in the 2100 block of Peppertree Way. Since the homicide, Antioch PD has responded to nearly a dozen shootings that may be related. Eight of the shootings have occurred in the past five days. Details for each shooting are noted below.
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- Tuesday, 9/3, 7:26 pm (2100 block of Peppertree Way) – Report 24-7865. Multiple firearms were used to fire at least 32 bullets. A 31-year-old man was shot in the leg.
- Wednesday, 9/4, 8:59 pm (2100 block of Peppertree Way) – Report 24-7898. 11 bullets were fired from multiple guns. The gunfire struck a nearby building.
- Saturday, 9/7, 9:31 pm (Sycamore Drive at Peppertree Way) – Report 24-7991. 29 bullets fired from multiple firearms. A 52-year-old woman was shot in the leg while in the parking lot of Sycamore Square.
- Thursday, 9/12, 8:21 pm (2100 block of Lemontree Way) – Reports 24-8193 and 24-8194. At least 26 bullets were fired. The gunfire struck two nearby homes. One resident was grazed by a stray bullet and suffered a minor injury to his neck that didn’t require medical attention.
- Thursday 9/12, 8:31 pm, (1000 block of Fitzuren Road) – Report 24-8195. At least three bullets were fired. The gunfire struck a nearby business.
- Thursday 9/12, 8:32 pm, (2900 block of Pear Street) – Report 24-8197. At least three bullets were fired
- Sunday 9/15, 9:10 pm, (Sycamore Drive at Peppertree Way) – Report 24-8309. At least 13 bullets were fired. A nearby home and unoccupied vehicle were struck by gunfire.
- Monday 9/16, 2:40 am (600 block of G Street) – Report 24-8316. Multiple firearms fired at least 12 bullets
- Monday 9/16, 4:54 pm (Contra Costa County Fairgrounds) – Report 24-8353. Multiple firearms fired at least 30 bullets. A man was shot on the Fairground property. The man is currently in critical condition. The fairgrounds fall under Contra Costa County jurisdiction, so the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office is investigating this matter.
- Monday 9/16, 7:46 pm, (L Street at William Reed) – Report 24-8356. Multiple firearms fired 50 or more bullets. Two nearby businesses were struck
- Monday 9/16, 7:48 pm, (1800 block of Cavallo Road) – Report 24-8357. At least four bullets were fired. A 58-year-old man was shot while attending a memorial gathering at this location for Elijah Scales. The man is currently in critical condition at a local hospital.
Anyone with information can contact Investigations Sergeant Bill Whitaker at 925-779-6876 or [email protected]
Previous Stories:
- Sept. 22 – 2 Wounded Sunday, 2 Other Antioch Shootings
- Sept. 20 – Antioch Shooting Victim Dies, Search for Suspect Underway
- Sept. 19 – Police Say Man Shot Thursday Night in Brentwood
- Sept. 16 – Grandmother and Child, Narrowly Missed by Gun Shots Monday in Antioch
- Sept. 15 – Antioch Police Say 17 Shots Fired on Sycamore Drive Sunday: the report of the shooting came in at 9:10 pm. Police said they recovered 17 casings at the scene and that 1 vehicle and 1 house were hit in the gunfire. No gunshot victims were located.
- Sept. 8 – Woman Struck by Gunfire on Sycamore Drive in Antioch, Third Shooting This Week: A 52-year-old woman was struck by gunfire on Sycamore Drive in the City of Antioch Saturday night, the third shooting of the week in the area.
- Sept. 2 – Fatal Shooting on Peppertree way at Sycamore (9:23 pm): The Antioch Police Department announced that the victim in a September 2 shooting on Peppertree Way has died. Police said, on September 5, Elijah Scales (20) from Antioch, succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. Police added this is an active investigation, and no further information will be released at this time.
- Sept. 3 – Shooting in the Sycamore Square parking lot (8:30 pm)
- Sept. 7 – 52-year-old woman struck by gunfire at Sycamore at Peppertree (9:30 pm)
4 comments
Our feckless mayor sticks his foot in his mouth AGAIN. Is there anymore evidence this city needs a change in administration is needed? The gentleman is an embarrassment to Antioch.
Hey mayor , da DA ain’t gonna go after “these people” , because of her culture. And the money of soros.
Of course he’s going to lie and sugarcoat things for the media. Once again he thinks the people of the city are too dumb to see what’s going on, just like his supposed “one drink with dinner” at 2am.
Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe described the past three weeks as an “unprecedented level of death and violence.” sorry Antioch, you voted democrap, deal with it.
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