Being held on over $1.5 million bail
Has history of arrests for other gun-related crimes dating back to 2016
By Concord Police Department
On March 18, 2025, at approximately 4:30 P.M., the Concord Police Department’s Communications Center was notified that a gunshot victim had come into the John Muir Emergency Department. Patrol Officers arrived at the hospital and learned that a single victim had been shot. The victim’s injuries were not life threatening, and the Victim was treated and released.
Officers located the scene of the shooting, which occurred in the area of Esperanza Drive and Huron Drive. Detectives from various CPD Investigative Units were called to the scene to further investigate. Through a variety of investigative methods, Devante Lucas Watson, age 27 (born 8/6/97) of Concord, was identified as the suspected shooter in this case.
An arrest warrant for Watson was sought and approved. With the assistance of the United States Marshal’s Service, Watson was located at a location in Richmond where he was arrested and transported to the Concord Jail. Detectives conducted multiple search warrants and located a loaded firearm.
Further investigation has led to the conclusion this was a targeted attack and not a random act of violence.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed a five-count felony criminal complaint on Watson for:
PC245(a)(2) – Assault with a semi-automatic firearm (two counts)
PC246 – Discharging a firearm at an occupied motor vehicle
PC29800(a) – Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
PC626.9(d) – Discharging a firearm in a school zone
Watson is being held in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility on $1.5 million bail.
The Concord Police Department continues to take a zero-tolerance approach to violence in all areas of the City, with an extremely high emphasis on violence in school zones. Violence in school zones is simply unacceptable, and the Concord Police Department will dedicate all available resources to investigating and solving these crimes.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting can reach out to Detective Luciano at 925-603-5831.
According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department, the six-foot, three-inch tall, 170-pound Watson is Black, and being held on $1,521,000 bail and his next court appearance is scheduled for May 21, 2025, in Superior Court, Martinez.
According to localcrimenews.com, he has a history of arrests dating back to 2016 by multiple agencies including Concord and Pleasant Hill Police Departments and the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department for crimes, such as gun and drug charges, assault, battery, robbery and receiving or concealing stolen property.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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