Details Released About Antioch Police Officer Shot By Carjacking Suspect

UPDATED 2:40PM-

ANTIOCH - Antioch police provided additional details Thursday about the events leading up to one of the department's officers being shot by a carjacking suspect in Pittsburg on Wednesday evening.

Police said the suspect, who has been taken into custody, was connected to shootings the same day at a McDonald's restaurant in Antioch and a residence in Pittsburg as part of a domestic dispute before he was involved in a police pursuit that ended with an exchange of gunfire and an officer being shot.

He allegedly began by shooting a shotgun into a McDonald's at 2424 Mahogany Way, which shattered several of the building's windows, police said.

Antioch police officers responded to the incident at 10:51 a.m. and found a male employee of the business suffering a minor gunshot wound. He was not believed to be the intended target of the shooting.

The suspect, described as a Hispanic man, had already fled the scene in a white Chevrolet truck and was not found, police said.

Around 15 minutes later, Pittsburg police received a report of a shooting at a residence in the 1200 block of Beacon Street. It was reported that a Hispanic man fired a shotgun into the home's front window and was also seen fleeing in a Chevrolet truck, police said.

Establishing that the incidents were related, Pittsburg and Antioch police then began working together on the investigation.

Antioch police officers contacted the suspect's girlfriend, who was an employee of the McDonald's where the earlier shooting occurred. The woman also had relatives in the Pittsburg home that was targeted, police said. She was not at either location when the shootings occurred.

Preliminary information indicates that the shootings were motivated by a domestic dispute, police said.

While still investigating the incidents, Antioch police were notified at 5:52 p.m. that the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office received a report of a carjacking possibly involving the suspect. A Hispanic man brandishing a shotgun stole a 17-year-old victim's BMW, leaving behind a Chevrolet truck, and began heading east toward Pittsburg and Antioch, police said.

Antioch police initially said the carjacking may have occurred in the community of Bay Point but have since clarified that it happened just off of state Highway 4 near Martinez.

At 6:11 p.m., an Antioch officer located the stolen vehicle in the vicinity of West 10th Street and Verne Roberts Circle and pursued it when the driver fled, according to police.

The suspect then crashed at the intersection of East Leland and Loveridge roads before opening fire on officers as they approached, striking one in the head, according to police. Officers returned fire but the suspect dropped his shotgun and surrendered without getting shot, according to police.

The officer was transported to a hospital for treatment of injuries not considered life-threatening. He has since been released from the hospital and police said he is expected to make a full recovery.

Antioch police said they are not releasing the name of the suspect, who was booked into Martinez Detention Facility, or the identities of the officers involved at this time.

Antioch police Chief Allan Cantando wrote on Facebook today about the shooting of the officer, calling it "one of the scariest moments that police departments sometimes face."

"I want to publicly commend the courageous and heroic actions of the officers who exchanged gunfire with a subject who recklessly and callously endangered their lives and the lives of many innocent community members throughout his daylong crime spree," Cantando said.

He said the injured officer, "even after being shot, had the mental and physical strength to continue engaging this threat and protecting all of those in harm's way."

Here is the full text of the Chief's message:

Yesterday afternoon we were faced with one of the scariest moments that police departments sometimes face, when we heard over the radio that one of our officers had been shot. Thankfully, this officer was not seriously injured and is expected to make a full recovery.

We would like to thank the community for the outpouring of well-wishes, thoughts, and prayers for our officers. It means the world to all of us knowing that we have your support. We would also like to thank Pittsburg PD, Contra Costa DA’s Office, Contra Costa Crime Lab, and the California Highway Patrol for all of their assistance in this investigation.

Additionally, I would like to personally thank the entire APD family who has come together, strong as ever, during this incident. Officers, detectives, supervisors, dispatchers, support staff, and volunteers alike, have demonstrated unparalleled professionalism and dedication.

Finally, I want to publicly commend the courageous and heroic actions of the officers who exchanged gunfire with a subject who recklessly and callously endangered their lives and the lives of many innocent community members throughout his daylong crime spree. One of these officers, even after being shot, had the mental and physical strength to continue engaging this threat and protecting all of those in harm’s way.

Sincerely,

Chief Allan Cantando

Anyone with additional details about the case is asked to call Antioch police at (925) 778-2441.

-Bay City News

--------------------------

PITTSBURG - An Antioch police officer was allegedly shot by a carjacking suspect in Pittsburg Wednesday evening, according to police.

The carjacking occurred in Bay Point and was reported to the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office, who notified Antioch police at 5:52 p.m. that a Hispanic man with a shotgun had last been seen driving a stolen BMW toward Pittsburg and Antioch.

At 6:11 p.m. an Antioch officer saw the vehicle in the vicinity of West 10th Street and Verne Roberts Circle, and pursued it when the driver fled.

The driver crashed at the intersection of Leland and Loveridge roads, then opened fire on officers as they approached, striking one.

Other officers returned fire but the suspect surrendered without getting shot. The officer was transported to a hospital for medical treatment but has already been released, according to police.

A dispatcher for the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District said that four ambulances had been sent to the scene.

The suspect and officer have not yet been identified, and police said no additional information would be released Wednesday night.

-Bay City News, image via ShutterStock