Police Identify Victims of Livermore Double Homicide

By AUTUMN JOHNSON

Police officials today have identified two men who were fatally shot over the weekend in Livermore.

The first victim has been identified as 22-year-old Livermore resident Ryan Rossknecht. The second victim, a Manteca resident, was identified as 29-year-old Brandon Lowell. According to police, Lowell was a former Livermore resident.

Police officials said James Wears, 28, of Livermore was arrested on Sunday evening for being a felon in possession of firearm in connection to the shooting. During a press conference Monday morning, Officer Traci Rebiejo said Wears was resisted arrest after being stopped by officers.

“The canine was deployed and he was bitten,” Rebiejo said.

According to Rebiejo, a gun was found close to the crime scene in a church parking lot on Herman Avenue following the shooting and investigators believe it is related to the incident.

Related:

• Police: Arrest Made in Livermore Double Homicide

Rebiejo said investigators believe the three men involved in this incident all knew each other and possibly met to exchange contraband.

“We believe this is an isolated incident,” Rebiejo said during the press conference.

The initial police response to the shooting occurred at about 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. Officers responded to the area of Altamont Creek and Winding Stream drives following reports of a disturbance, police said. Police said officers arrived to find two men on the ground suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. One man was immediately transported to a hospital, where police said he was pronounced dead. The other man was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The deaths are the first homicides in Livermore this year, Livermore police Sgt. Steve Goard said. Rebiejo said the last homicide in Livermore was in December 2012 when Robert Ogden was shot to death.

Previous:

• UPDATE: 1 Detained, 2 Dead in Apparent Shooting in Livermore
• Livermore Man Convicted of Murdering Former Friend

Police are still seeking any information that the community may have regarding this incident. Anyone who has information regarding this incident is asked to call 925-371-4987. You may remain anonymous.

Bay City News contributed to this report.

Photos courtesy Alex G

Booking photo of James Wears courtesy Livermore Police

Map courtesy Google Maps

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