Murder suspect in Alexis Gabe case killed following attack on officers
Deceased murder suspect Marshall Curtis Jones, III in an image from officer body cam footage. (Source: Oakley PD) Alexis Gabe reward increased to $100,000.
Missing Oakley woman believed dead, ex-boyfriend a fugitive shot and killed in Washington state Wednesday
Police assisted by video from surveillance cameras, GPS in her car
Investigation and search continue, reward increased to $100,000
“…our daughter will remain alive in our minds and our hearts. We will continue to search for her until we find her.” – Gwyn Gabe, Alexis’ father
By Allen D. Payton
The case of missing Oakley woman Alexis Gabe, last seen in Antioch by her ex-boyfriend on Jan. 26, took a sad turn today as Oakley Police Chief Paul Beard announced she is believed to be a victim of a homicide and her ex-boyfriend, a suspect and wanted fugitive who fled to Washington state, was killed yesterday by officers following his attack on them.
“Our joint investigation has led us to believe that…Marshall Curtis Jones, a 27-year-old male resident of Antioch killed Alexis at his home on or about Jan. 26,” Beard stated during a press conference today, Thursday, June 2, 2022.
Last week, Oakley and Antioch police presented the case to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office who filed murder charges against Jones on May 26. Gabe has been missing since Jan. 26 and was last seen by Jones at his house on Benttree Way in Antioch. (See related articles here, here and here)
A post on the City of Oakley Facebook page on Thursday reads:
“The ex-boyfriend of Alexis Gabe, Marshall Curtis Jones, was killed yesterday (June 1, 2022) by members of the Pacific Northwest Violent Offenders Task Force as they attempted to arrest him in Washington. Jones was pronounced dead at the scene after charging at officers with a knife.
Oakley and Antioch police officers issued an arrest warrant on June 1, 2022, for Jones in Kent, Washington. The 27-year-old Antioch resident was charged with the murder of Alexis Gabe, the Oakley resident who disappeared in January 2022. Jones was the last person she saw before her disappearance.
Law enforcement officers from Seattle Police Department, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Marshals Service were attempting to arrest Jones. As he produced a knife and charged at officers, marshals discharged their service weapons, killing Jones.”
The investigation is ongoing; more information will be released as it becomes available.
The $100,000 reward is still available and will be issued for information leading to the whereabouts of Alexis Gabe. Call (925) 625-7009 or email alexistips@ci.oakley.ca.us with any information about the case.”
“We had no idea he was capable of doing something like this to her. We didn’t want him dead. We wanted to look him in the eye and ask him way, ask him ‘where is Alexis?’” – Gwyn Gabe
Oakley Police Press Conference
Oakley Police Paul Chief Beard speaks during the press conference Thursday morning, June 2, 2022. Photo: Oakley PD
“This is still an open investigation”, said Chief Beard during the press conference. “Our search for Alexis has been a very vigorous one. We have literally searched for her on land, sea and air will continue to do so.”
“I must announce at this time, we believe Alexis Gabe is the victim of a homicide,” he continued. “We believe that homicide occurred in the city of Antioch. The members of the Antioch Police Department with officer of the Oakley Police Department.”
Part of what has led us to believe Alexis is the victim of a homicide is the examination of a large amount of digital and forensic evidence,” Beard stated. “In conjunction with that is there is the fact that there are no signs of life anywhere for Alexis.”
He spoke of the evidence including, “the cell phone case that was found” with the help of volunteers from the Polly Klass Foundation and contained Jones’ DNA.
Additional evidence included “thousands of phone records…and an image of Marshall Jones being captured on several surveillance cameras that led him on a path from where Alexis’ vehicle was dumped in Oakley to his home on Benttree Lane on the evening of January 26, 2022,” the chief continued. “Further digital evidence was the fact that Alexis’ vehicle was equipped with a GPS system. An examination of that system showed a direct path from leading that vehicle from Marshall Jones’ house to where it was dumped on the night of Jan. 26, 2022.”
“Our joint investigation has led us to believe that…Marshall Curtis Jones, a 27-year-old male resident of Antioch killed Alexis at his home on or about Jan. 26,” Beard said. “Jones was very uncooperative during our joint investigation, and he has refused to speak with us, several times.”
Alexis’ father Gwyn Gabe speaks with her mother, Rowena and their sons beside him during the press conference on Thursday morning, June 2, 2022. Video screenshot.
Alexis’ Father Speaks
“What happened to Marshall was tragic and unexpected,” Gwyn Gabe, Alexis’ father said during the press conference with his wife, Rowena and their two sons by his side. “He was our daughter’s first love. They were together for three years. He became part of our family. We had no idea he was capable of doing something like this to her. We didn’t want him dead. We wanted him arrested to pay for his sins. We wanted to meet with him face to face. We wanted to look him in the eye and ask him way, ask him ‘where is Alexis?’”
“I know the police say our daughter’s gone,” Gabe continued. “But our daughter will remain alive in our minds and our hearts. We will continue to search for her until we find her.”
He then thanked the Oakley and Antioch police officers who assisted in the case.
“Oakley and Antioch PD have been working on this case for four months straight, with no stop. They invested so much, and they deserve all the credit. This is just in case someone else tries to schedule a press conference and takes full credit for what went down yesterday and the past four months.”
Contra Costa DA Becton held a press conference Thursday afternoon about the case. (See below)
Oakley Police Press Release
Following is the information provided in the Oakley Police Department’s press release about the case: “The ex-boyfriend of Alexis Gabe, Marshall Curtis Jones, was killed yesterday (June 1, 2022) by members of the Pacific Northwest Violent Offenders Task Force as they attempted to arrest him in Washington. Jones was pronounced dead at the scene after charging at officers with a knife. Oakley and Antioch police officers issued an arrest warrant on June 1, 2022, for Jones in Kent, Washington. The 27-year-old Antioch resident was charged with the murder of Alexis Gabe, the Oakley resident who disappeared in January 2022. Jones was the last person she saw before her disappearance. Law enforcement officers from Seattle Police Department, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Marshals Service were attempting to arrest Jones. As he produced a knife and charged at officers, marshals discharged their service weapons, killing Jones.
Murder Suspect in the Alexis Gabe Case Killed Following Attack on Law Enforcement Officers The ex-boyfriend of Alexis Gabe, Marshall Curtis Jones, was killed yesterday (June 1, 2022) by members of the Pacific Northwest Violent Offenders Task Force as they attempted to arrest him in Washington. Jones was pronounced dead at the scene after charging at officers with a knife. Oakley and Antioch police officers issued an arrest warrant on June 1, 2022, for Jones in Kent, Washington. The 27-year-old Antioch resident was charged with the murder of Alexis Gabe, the Oakley resident who disappeared in January 2022. Jones was the last person she saw before her disappearance. Law enforcement officers from Seattle Police Department, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Marshals Service were attempting to arrest Jones. As he produced a knife and charged at officers, marshals discharged their service weapons, killing Jones. The investigation is ongoing; more information will be released as it becomes available.”
Contra Costa DA Holds Press Conference Thursday Afternoon, Issues Statement
On Thursday afternoon, Contra Costa DA Diana Becton held a press conference at her office about the case and issued a statement about the case.
Following is the press release from Public Information Officer Ted Asregadoo:
“Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton filed a murder charge (PC 187) on May 26, 2022, against Marshall Curtis Jones, III for the killing of 24-year-old Oakley resident, Alexis Gabe. Yesterday evening, in Kent, Washington, Jones was shot and killed by law enforcement personnel during an attempted fugitive apprehension.
24-year-old Gabe was missing since January 26, 2022, after last being seen in Antioch. Due to the nature and scope of the investigation, Oakley Police requested investigative assistance from the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office and Antioch Police Department.
On April 25, 2022, Antioch Police Department authored a wiretap affidavit, which was signed by District Attorney Diana Becton, and presented to the Contra Costa Superior Court for approval. A wire and electronic interception of Jones’ cellular phone concluded on May 24th. Along with the phone intercept recordings, surveillance footage, cell data, and DNA evidence, investigators made a criminal referral to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office on May 25th.
After the criminal complaint was filed on May 26th, the DA’s Office, Antioch Police, Oakley Police, the U.S. Marshals Service, and Washington State authorities coordinated to apprehend Jones – who, during the course of the investigation, fled from Antioch to Kent, Washington.
On June 1, 2022, a fugitive task force attempted to arrest Jones inside an apartment where he was in hiding. Police announced themselves, and Jones reportedly opened the front door to the apartment and charged at officers while wielding a knife. He was shot by authorities. Police took immediate life-saving measures, but Jones died at the scene.
24-year-old Gabe has been missing since January 26, 2022, after last being seen in Antioch. Members of her family found her blue Infinity coupe about a mile from Gabe’s home on Trenton Street near Carrington Drive in Oakley the next day. The keys were still inside, and the vehicle was unlocked. Shortly thereafter, the Oakley Police Department started an investigation into the highly suspicious circumstances of Gabe’s disappearance.
Gabe’s former boyfriend, Marshall Curtis Jones, III became a focus of the investigation – which culminated in the wire and electronic interception of his cellular phone. Jones and Gabe had reportedly broken up in November 2021 but saw each other from time to time. Jones confirmed to investigators that he and Alexis were together at his home on Benttree Way in Antioch until 9 o’clock on the night she went missing, but that he witnessed her leaving his residence in the blue Infinity coupe she arrived in earlier.
Today, District Attorney Diana Becton said, ‘It’s been an emotionally wrenching time for the family, friends, and community. I, along with the police agencies who have worked tirelessly to bring justice to the Gabe family, wish to express our deepest condolences for the loss of their beloved daughter. My office will continue to seek justice in finding Alexis so her family can have a sense of closure to this tragic loss of life.’”
Billionaire Soros, special interests dump $1 million into Contra Costa DA’s race to support Becton, defeat Knox
From pages 1 and 3 of the CA Justice & Public Safety PAC 496 report dated May 28, 2022, showing the $489,200 spent against Knox and $652,000 contributed by Soros. Source: Netfile.com
Including $510,000 more in attack ads against Knox; Soros contributes $652,000
“This money will not drown out the voices of the hundreds of volunteers and thousands of local donors who have worked tirelessly side-by-side with me over the past 11 months to spread our campaign’s message…” – Deputy D.A. Mary Knox
By Allen D. Payton
The Washington, D.C.-based PAC funded by billionaire George Soros has received another $1 million more to help re-elect incumbent Contra Costa D.A. Diana Becton and defeat her challenger, Deputy D.A. Mary Knox. According to two campaign finance reports on Netfile.com submitted by the California Justice & Public Safety PAC date May 28, Soros contributed $652,000, the Smart Justice California Action Fund contributed $300,000 and M. Quinn Delaney of Piedmont contributed $50,000.
According to their website, Smart Justice California is “an alliance of donors and funders…helping to change the belief that prosecutors must be incarceration-driven by engaging voters and establishing a statewide candidate pipeline of justice reform champions.”
The report lists Delaney as retired. But according to the organization’s website, she “is the Founder and Board Chair of Akonadi Foundation, which supports the development of powerful social change movements to eliminate structural racism and create a racially just society. The Foundation funds primarily in Oakland with a focus on ending the criminalization of people of color.”
6/2/22 UPDATE & CORRECTION: That brings the total received by the PAC to $1,002,000 in the race, so far. (See related article)
It was previously reported that the $1 million in contributions was in addition to over $400,000 previously spent according to the PAC’s Form 496 reports dated May 14 for a total of more than $1.4 million in contributions. However, according to Alex Navarro-Mckay of New York-based Berlin Rosen campaigns said, “when the $400,000 was spent the PAC was incurring liabilities.” Asked when the ads started running, he responded, “right around there. May 13 or 14.”
That means the PAC spent over $400,000 on negative, digital attack ads against Knox before the funds were received on May 17, 26 and 27. Most media companies require political campaigns to pay in advance.
Of the latest amount received, almost $500,000 was spent on negative attack ads against Knox and another $10,050 was spent for digital ads against her. The PAC only spent $34,900 on digital ads to support Becton.
In response to those contributions and expenditures to defeat her, Knox released the following statement:
“An out-of-state billionaire along with special interest groups have now dropped an unprecedented $1M to defeat my campaign and influence voters for District Attorney in this local election. Contra Costa voters will determine the outcome of this election and the future of public safety in Contra Costa County. This money will not drown out the voices of the hundreds of volunteers and thousands of local donors who have worked tirelessly side-by-side with me over the past 11 months to spread our campaign’s message”, said Knox. “I have served this community for 37 years as a prosecutor. The bottom line is this. People in our community want to feel safe in their neighborhoods. Every day I talk to voters who are frustrated with D.A. Becton and want to see their District Attorney focused on public safety and crime reduction.”
As previously reported, Becton was asked if it is good to have so much out-of-county and out-of-state funds spent to influence an election in Contra Costa County, but she did not respond. Becton was also the beneficiary of spending by Soros during her first election campaign in 2018. (See related article)
Knox has served as a prosecutor in the Contra Costa District Attorney’s office for 37 years and has extensive trial experience. Knox has earned the endorsement of every law enforcement agency in the County, as well as state and local organizations such as the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, PORAC, the California Narcotics Officers Association and the California Gang Investigators Association. Mary has advanced social justice while preventing crime in Contra Costa County. She brought anti-bias training to the District Attorney’s Office and has fought to end discrimination against women in the Contra Costa County’s District Attorney’s Office.
Knox and Becton are the only candidates running for election as DA. Since this election will be won by a simple majority, the election of the next District Attorney of Contra Costa County will be determined by the votes cast on June 7, 2022.
Hundreds plan to rally in S.F. Thursday to stop CPUC’s latest solar tax proposal
“Don’t Tax the Sun” event is part of the largest ever submission of live and video-recorded public comments in CPUC history
Organizers claim tax will boost utility profits at the expense of clean energy needs
San Francisco—Hundreds of solar workers, consumers, clean energy advocates, community leaders, conservationists, and climate activists will join together at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) headquarters building in San Francisco on Thursday to protest the CPUC’s latest proposal to tax rooftop solar and drastically reduce the credits consumers receive for selling their solar energy back to the grid.
After a brief rally, solar supporters will line up to give public comments during the CPUC meeting. In Los Angeles, another thousand solar supporters will record their video testimonials to submit to the CPUC. Combined, Thursday’s actions are expected to be the largest ever submission of live and video-recorded public comments in CPUC history.
- WHAT: 500+ ‘Don’t Tax the Sun’ rally and largest ever CPUC public comment submission
- WHEN: Thursday, June 2 at 11:00am PDT
- WHERE: CPUC headquarters at 505 Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco where the CPUC will be opening its doors to in-person public comment.
- WHO: Large and diverse coalition of solar supporters.
- VISUALS: Rally and more than 500 solar supporters lined-up to give public comments wearing bright red ‘Don’t Tax the Sun’ tee-shirts with signs and banners.
The CPUC is currently considering changes to “net energy metering,” the state policy that makes rooftop solar more affordable for consumers of all types by compensating them for the excess energy they produce and share with their neighbors. Currently 1.5 million consumers use net metering, including thousands of public schools, churches and affordable housing developments, and it is the main driver of California’s world-renowned rooftop solar market. As a result of net metering, working and middle class neighborhoods are just under half of the rooftop solar market and the fastest growing segment today.
Big utilities want to change the rules in their favor in order to eliminate a growing competitor, keep consumers stuck in utility monopolies, and maintain the need for costly and often dangerous transmission lines that are a key driver of utility profits and ratepayer costs.
Despite the overwhelming popularity of rooftop solar and net metering in California, the CPUC is considering a proposed decision, favored by investor-owned utilities, to implement a monthly solar penalty tax while also slashing credits consumers receive for their excess solar energy.
The CPUC had previously proposed a similar steep tax on rooftop solar and an immediate gutting of the credits of solar consumers. The unpopular proposed decision was shelved for an indefinite amount of time earlier this year after intense backlash and public disapproval from Governor Newsom. The CPUC’s recent ruling to re-open its net energy metering procedures seems again to be pursuing a tax, this time hidden and under a different name.
By contrast, solar supporters want to keep solar growing and affordable for all types of consumers, ensure California remains on track with its clean energy and land conservation goals, and accelerate the growth of solar plus storage to build a more resilient electric grid.
About Save California Solar
Save California Solar is a coalition formed to help ensure that rooftop solar continues to grow and benefit every Californian. Save CA Solar includes more than 600 diverse organizations and helped generate 150,000+ public comments submitted in support of net metering ahead of the CPUC proposed decision. Learn more at www.savecasolar.org.
Slaney wins late model race at Antioch Speedway, Crowell, Ryland, Freethy other winners
Anthony Slaney #4 became the third different Limited Late Model Main Event winner on the tour with his Antioch triumph. Photo by Katrina Kniss
By Don Martin II, DCRR Racing Media
Antioch, CA…May 28…Anthony Slaney won the 20 lap Xtreme Scaffolding Limited Limited Late Model Main Event Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. He’s the third different winner in as many races on the tour this year, and the race would go without a yellow flag.
Past Marysville and Placerville champion Matt Micheli took the early lead ahead of Slaney and Dan Brown Jr. Brown went low in Turn 4 on Lap 5 to take second from Slaney, and Dan Jinkerson briefly took third from Slaney on Lap 10. Within a few laps, the Top 5 competitors ran nose to tail, and Slaney made a big move on the outside in Turn 4 on Lap 13 to regain second. A low pass in Turn 3 of the 14th lap gained Slaney the lead. Jinkerson made an inside pass on the backstretch on Lap 16 to take second, but he spun in Turn 4 a lap later without a yellow flag. Slaney went on to victory ahead of Brown, Micheli, Kiely Ricardo and Brian Pearce.
Aaron Crowell #29c is the fourth different IMCA Modified Main Event winner of the year at Antioch Speedway. Photo by Katrina Kniss
Aaron Crowell won the 20 lap IMCA Modified Main Event. This was the first win of the season for the 2004 champion. Crowell jumped into the early lead after the race had been restarted. Trevor Clymens was an early second. Clymens surrendered second to Kellen Chadwick in traffic on Lap 10 with Troy Foulger following closely into third. A blanket three-car battle developed for the lead with Crowell leading Chadwick and Foulger. As Foulger fell back a little bit in the waning laps, Chadwick took one more shot at Crowell, but Crowell prevailed at the checkered flag. Foulger settled for third, followed by Anthony Slaney and Clymens.
Fred Ryland #7j grabbed the IMCA Sport Modified point lead with his third win of the season. Photo by Katrina Kniss
Fred Ryland won his third 20 lap IMCA Sport Modified Main Event. The race was destined to go without a yellow flag, and Nick Zapatero bolted into the lead at the start ahead of Kevin Brown. Brown surrendered second to Chuck Golden on Lap 4 as Golden went low in Turn 4. Ryland made his first appearance in the Top 5 on Lap 7 and quickly moved into third behind Kenny Shrader after Golden hit the Turn 2 wall on Lap 9. Ryland slipped past Shrader for second on Lap 15. Zapatero was nursing some front end damage as he tried to protect his lead, but Ryland closed in on him with two laps to go. Zapatero went high exiting the final turn, and Ryland ducked low to make his winning pass and score the victory. Zapatero was a career best second, ahead of Shrader, Jacob Mallet Jr and Tommy Fraser.
Jim Freethy #99 won his second Super Stock Main Event of the season. Photo by Katrina Kniss
Jim Freethy won the 15 lap Super Stock Main Event. This was the second win of the season for the reigning division champion. The division’s all time win leader and two-time champion Mike Gustafson returned to action and set the early pace ahead of Freethy and Joey Ridgeway Jr. A low move in Turn 2 of the fourth lap put Freethy into the lead with Ridgeway going low in Turn 3 to get second. The yellow flag waved on Lap 9 for Ridgeway in Turn 4, and Jimmy Robbins pitted with a flat tire. Freethy continued to lead the restart with Robbins going high in Turn 2 to take second from Gustafson. Freethy led the rest of the way to win ahead of Robbins, Gustafson, Ridgeway and Michael Burch.
Racing resumes next Saturday night with IMCA Modifieds back in action along with the IMCA Sport Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars and Delta Dwarf Cars. For further information, go to www.antiochspeedway.com.
Unofficial Race Results – May 28, 2022
Xtreme Limited Late Models
Heat Winners (8 laps) – Dan Jinkerson Anthony Slaney. Main Event (20 laps) – Anthony Slaney, Dan Brown Jr, Matt Micheli, Kiely Ricardo, Brian Pearce, Fred Ryland, Ray Trimble, Rod Oliver, Dan Jinkerson, Jay Norton.
IMCA Modifieds
Heat Winners (8 laps) – Troy Foulger, Kellen Chadwick. Main Event (20 laps) – Aaron Crowell, Kellen Chadwick, Troy Foulger, Anthony Slaney, Trevor Clymens, Bobby Motts Jr, Terry DeCarlo Jr, Kenneth Robles, Gary Hylton, Eric Berendsen.
IMCA Sport Modifieds
Heat Winners (8 laps) – Fred Ryland, Kenny Shrader. Main Event (20 laps) – Fred Ryland, Nick Zapatero, Kenny Shrader, Jacob Mallet Jr, Tommy Fraser, Andrew Pearce, Chuck Golden, Kevin Brown, Tyler Browne, Johnathan Hagio.
Super Stocks
Heat Winner (8 laps) – Jim Freethy. Main Event (15 laps) – Jim Freethy, Jimmy Robbins, Mike Gustafson, Joey Ridgeway Jr, Michael Burch, Wayne Trimble DNS.
CHP helicopter rescues injured mountain biker on Mt. Diablo on Monday
CHP helicopter H-30 locates injured ATV rider on Mt. Diablo Monday morning, May 30, 2022. Photo: CHP-Golden Gate Division Air Operations
After rescuing another injured mountain biker in Skyline Wilderness Park in Napa
According to a post on the CHP-Golden Gate Division Air Operations’ Facebook page, Monday afternoon
“Earlier today, H-30 responded with CAL FIRE/Napa County Fire Department and AMR Napa County to report of an injured mountain biker in Skyline Park. H-30 located the patient and transported him to the trailhead for transport by ground ambulance.
H-30 departed that rescue and assisted Con Fire and San Ramon Valley Fire with an injured mountain biker on Mount Diablo. H-30 was able to locate the rider who was ejected off trail. H-30 landed near the rider and assisted until firefighters arrived at the scene. H-30 departed that rescue and headed to Milpitas for a third pending rescue.”
Fatal head-on collision, possible DUI near Antioch bridge Sunday night claims life of San Ramon man
CHP Medevac helicopter H-32 waits on Hwy 160 to transport one of the injured boys to Children’s Hospital in Oakland. Photo: CHP-Golden Gate Division Air Operations
Three children in car with him and 70-year-old woman driving other car sustain major injuries
He was driving “at high speed…borderline reckless” – Mark Leavitt, PIO, CHP-South Sacramento
By Allen D. Payton
A San Ramon man suspected of driving under the influence died in a crash he caused on Highway 160 north of the Antioch bridge late Sunday night. Three children in the car with him and the 70-year-old female driver of the car he struck sustained major injuries. They were taken to hospitals in Walnut Creek, Oakland and Sacramento.
According to Mark Leavitt, PIO for CHP-South Sacramento, “It happened, last night about 10:20 p.m. There two vehicles involved. We had multiple callers and witnesses. A Mazda was traveling on 160 toward the bridge at high speed, according to witnesses, and borderline reckless, and possible DUI. We’re treating it as a DUI.
The Mazda crossed over the solid double yellow lines. At the same time an Audi was traveling northbound on 160, and the Mazda struck the Audi. The Mazda overturned from the crash.”
The Audi was traveling at approximately 55 mph. The Mazda struck the Audi, spinning the Audi into the righthand shoulder. The Mazda came to rest on its roof blocking the southbound lane.
“The driver of the Mazda was from San Ramon, he was born in 1983 and estimated to be 38,” Leavitt continued. “He was not wearing his seatbelt and was pronounced deceased at the scene. In the Mazda there were three juveniles, a 15-year-old female in the front passenger seat, two males ages six and four in the rear seat. We don’t believe the children in the back seat were belted, and no child seats were found in the car.
All the children had major injuries. We don’t know the relationship of anyone in the car. We haven’t determined that yet. The 15-year-old was taken to John Muir Walnut Creek by ambulance
One of the boys was taken by Life Flight helicopter to Children’s Hospital in Oakland. The other boy was taken to U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacramento.”
“In the other vehicle was just a driver no passengers, a 71-year-old woman from Rio Vista,” Leavitt continued. “She has major injuries and was taken to John Muir Walnut Creek, also by ambulance. They say she’s in stable condition.”
“We do believe the driver of the Mazda was DUI according to witnesses and the 15-year-old girl in the car,” he stated. “We won’t know for sure until the Sacramento County Coroner’s autopsy is completed.”
“Contra Costa CHP assisted us, as well, since it’s close to the border of our jurisdictions,” Leavitt added.
According to CHP-Golden Gate Division Air Operations in a post on their Facebook page Monday morning, “Late last night, H-32 responded with firefighters from Solano and Sacramento Counties to a report of a head on collision, Highway 160 near Sherman Island.
As ground resources arrived at the scene it was determined that one of the occupants was deceased and there were at least two young children who were critically injured.
H-32 transported one of the children to Children’s Hospital in Oakland while the other was transported by REACH to UC Davis.
Two additional patients were taken by ground ambulance to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek.”
Why we celebrate Memorial Day: A history of the annual national commemoration
All Americans are asked to pause at 3:00 p.m. (local time) on the last Monday in May for a ‘‘National Moment of Remembrance”
Fredericksburg National Cemetery. Source: govinfo.gov
From govinfo.gov and USMemorialDay.org
Memorial Day is the national observance on the last Monday in May to honor those who sacrificed their lives while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Memorial Day commemorates the women and men who have died while in military service, and it will be observed this year on May 30, 2022, the last Monday in May as designated by Federal law (36 U.S.C. 116).
Begun in the late 1860’s as Decoration Day, spring flowers were distributed at graves to honor those fallen in the Civil War. By the end of the 19th century, ceremonies were being held in cities across the country. In 1966, the Federal Government declared Waterloo, New York, the official birthplace of Memorial Day. (Source: The Origins of Memorial Day, Department of Veterans Affairs )
According to History.com, “some records show that one of the earliest Memorial Day commemorations was organized by a group of formerly enslaved people in Charleston, South Carolina less than a month after the Confederacy surrendered in 1865. in 1966 the federal government declared Waterloo, New York, the official birthplace of Memorial Day…which first celebrated the day on May 5, 1866…because it hosted an annual, community-wide event, during which businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags.”
According to USMemorialDay.org, the origins of this day are difficult to prove “as over two dozen towns and cities lay claim to be the birthplace. Memorial Day was borne out of the Civil War (which ended in 1865) and a desire to honor our dead. On the 5th of May in 1868, General John Logan who was the national commander of the Grand Army of the republic, officially proclaimed it in his General Order No. 11…for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land.’ Because the day wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle, the general called it, the date of Decoration Day.
On the first Decoration Day, 5,000 participants decorated the graves of 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried at Arlington Cemetery while General James Garfield made a historic speech.
New York was the first state to officially recognize the holiday in 1873. It was recognized by all northern states by 1890. Differently, the South refused to acknowledge the day and honored their dead, on separate days. This went on until after World War I when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war.
With the Congressional passage of the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 – 363), it is now observed on the last Monday in May by almost every state.”
Red Poppies on Memorial Day
Also, according to USMemorialDay.org, “In 1915, inspired by the poem ‘In Flanders Fields,’ Moina Michael replied with her own poem: We cherish too, the Poppy red That grows on fields where valor led, It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies.
She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. See more on the significance of the Red Poppy.
Later a Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms. Michael. When she returned to France, she made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women. This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children’s League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium. The League disbanded a year later, and Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help.
Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans’ organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their ‘Buddy’ Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the US Post Office honored Ms. Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp with her likeness on it.”
Public Law 106-579, signed into law December 28, 2000, created the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance, and it designated 3:00 p.m. (local time) on Memorial Day each year as the ‘‘National Moment of Remembrance.” At this time all Americans “To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to ‘Taps’.”
San Ramon Valley Fire to offer demos during Art & Wind Festival
Learn more about the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District.
Ordained Baptist minister, DA Becton rallies for abortion rights, touts Planned Parenthood endorsement
Becton speaking at pro-Roe v Wade rally on the county courthouse steps on Saturday, May 14, 2022. Source: Becton’s campaign Facebook page.
County school board member Avila Farias calls Herald readers “white supremacist cult followers”
By Allen D. Payton
DA Becton with Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and two other attendees at the May 14 rally. Source: Becton campaign Facebook page.
District Attorney Diana Becton spoke at a rally on the county courthouse steps on last week in support of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortions nationwide and touted her endorsement by Planned Parenthood.
In a post on her campaign Facebook page that day Becton wrote, “It was an honor to speak at the rally to kick off the day. Access to safe abortions is a public safety issue. I will always, proudly, stand by our right to privacy and our right to choose!
This morning we gathered at the Martinez Courthouse steps to rally in support of Roe vs Wade. Over 100 Contra Costan’s rallied and then got on buses to go rally in Sacramento or walk out neighborhoods in support of pro-choice candidates.
Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan said it best today, if we are going to protect our right to choose we have to elect pro choice candidates up and down the ballot. I’m proud to be the only candidate running for Contra Costa District Attorney that is endorsed by Planned Parenthood.”
Becton, an ordained Baptist minister who preaches in her and her husband’s church and has the title of “reverend”, was asked the following questions about her position on abortion and endorsement by Planned Parenthood:
“As a Baptist minister, someone who claims to be a Christian and as an African American how can you support abortion and Planned Parenthood, which was both founded in racist eugenics and continues to target Black and Hispanic communities, today by locating most of their facilities in their neighborhoods and aborting more of their unborn babies combined, than white babies, following the original mission of Margaret Sanger to keep their populations down? Why would you want the endorsement of an organization like that?”
In addition, she was asked, “how can you justify your position with what is written in the Bible in both Jeremiah 1, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart’ and in Psalm 139, ‘For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb’?”
Instead of responding to the emailed questions, on Friday, May 20 Becton posted the following on her campaign’s Facebook page and Twitter feed:
“In the spirit of transparency, I am sharing the questions I received today from the so-called ‘press’ outlet @antiochheraldca & @cocoherald.
For the record, I’m proud to be the ONLY candidate running for Contra Costa District Attorney that is endorsed by @PPact.
A woman’s right to choose is fundamental. It is non negotiable. A woman’s power — her constitutional right to make choices about her personal health care — is a matter of public safety every day and every hour, and it must be protected. #BansOffOurBodies”.
Anamarie Avila Farias’ comment on Becton’s campaign Facebook page.
County School Board Trustee Avila Farias calls Herald readers “white supremacist cult followers”
In a comment on the post on Becton’s campaign Facebook page, Contra Costa County Board of education Trustee for Area 3, Anamarie Avila Farias
She wrote, “Pro Choice -Catholic Mexican Mama here, the hope I have for my daughter, and all of our children, is that they grow up with the freedom to determine their own course in life and that starts with their own reproductive freedom. Thank you DA Becton of occupying various spaces of justice!”
Avila Farias then took a nasty, baseless swipe at this reporter and the readers of the Herald writing, “Allen Payton and all his white supremacist cult followers spew nothing but discrimination, machismo, and cultural stereotypes which are largely responsible for the barriers Latinas and people of color face in accessing proper healthcare, especially around reproductive rights.
We all know what to do Co Co County – Re- Elect Diana Becton! The Prosecutor office must reflect the communities they serve and the changing demographics!”
The election is June 7 in which Becton is facing a challenge from Deputy District Attorney Mary Knox.
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