Union City Man Charged With Murder

UNION CITY, CA —A 46-year-old Union City man was charged with murder today for the death of a 64-year-old extended family member during an apparent argument and struggle last Thursday, police said.

John Ashley Gordon, who's being held without bail at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, was arraigned on the murder charge in Alameda County Superior Court in Dublin today and is scheduled to return to court next
Monday to enter a plea.

Union City police said the Alameda County coroner's office isn't yet releasing the victim's name because it still hasn't notified his next of kin, who may be in the Philippines.

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Union City police Sgt. Steve Mendez said officers were dispatched to the 4400 block of Lisa Drive at about 11 a.m. last Thursday to respond to a report that there was a man who was in need of medical attention.

When the officers arrived they found the 64-year-old victim lying in the middle the street and paramedics were already on the scene performing life-saving procedures on him, police said.

However, the first aid efforts were ultimately unsuccessful and the man succumbed to his injuries at the scene at 11:36 a.m. on Thursday, according to police.

Mendez said there were no apparent signs of trauma to the 64-year-old man but witnesses told police that he had been in a heated argument and struggle prior to police arrival. Mendez said investigators later determined that the victim was involved in an argument and struggle with an extended family member, who
ultimately was identified as Gordon.

However, police said Gordon and the 64-year-old man aren't related by blood.

Mendez said the reasons for the argument and struggle are still being investigated by detectives. But, he said investigators believed that the victim died from a medical event brought on by the struggle with Gordon.

— Bay City News; Image via Union City Police Department