Contra Costa Deputies Shoot, Kill Man Armed With Arrow Gun

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — A Discovery Bay man was shot and killed by Contra Costa County sheriff's deputies Tuesday night when he advanced on them with a weapon that appeared to be a rifle, the sheriff's office said.

Deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at 8:44 p.m. Tuesday at a residence in the 8000 block of Westport Circle and after they spoke with the person who initially made the report, a deputy tried to talk to a man who was inside the residence, sheriff's office Spokesperson Jimmy Lee said.

As deputies continued trying to talk to the man, he took out a knife and raised it over his head, the sheriff's office said.

Deputies commanded the man to drop the knife, at which time he brandished what appeared to be a rifle prompting the deputies to retreat to a safe distance, Lee said.

"A short while later, as other deputies and Oakley police officers arrived at the scene, the man came out of the residence with the weapon raised and pointed as he walked toward the deputies and officers on the street," Lee said. "They attempted to deescalate the situation by giving him numerous commands to put his weapon down. He refused to comply and advanced on the deputies and officers who discharged their firearms striking the man."

Paramedics were immediately requested, Lee said.

Life-saving measures were performed and the man was taken to a hospital where he later died.

The sheriff's office identified the man as 51-year-old Robert Jones.

The weapon Jones was carrying and pointed at officers was a Umarex AirJavelin Archery Rifle that propels arrows up to 300 feet per second, Lee said.

The sheriff's office, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office and Oakley Police Department were continuing to investigate the officer-involved shooting Wednesday.

"The California Department of Justice was contacted and declined to participate in the investigation because the weapon Jones possessed is considered to be a deadly weapon," Lee said.