Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Contra Costa DA won’t charge five suspects in Orinda Halloween shooting deaths, wants more investigation

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The five suspects arrested, not charged and to be released are (l-r) Jason Iles, Shamron Mitchell, Devin Williamson, Lebraun Wallace and Jaquez Deshawn Sweeney. Photos by CoCoSheriff.

Suspects are or will be released; Sheriff stands by his department’s investigation

By Allen Payton

In a news release, this evening, Scott Alonso, the Public Information Officer for Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton, wrote, “Today the District Attorney’s Office met with members of the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff to review the Orinda Halloween shooting incident. No criminal charges are being filed at this time against any individual. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the case should call the Sheriff’s Homicide Unit at 925-313-2600.” (See related article)

When reached for comment, Alonso said, “We made the decision about 5:00 p.m. tonight.”

Asked if all five suspects who were arrested would be released, he responded, “That’s my understanding, yes. If they have no holds are on their records, then they will be released, tonight. If there are no charges filed against them. Four are in custody of the Contra Costa Sheriff. One is in custody of the Marin County Sheriff.”

Asked why D.A. Becton chose not to charge any of the suspects, Alonso said, “We have a really high filing standard and we need more information. We are collaboratively working with the Sheriff’s Office to see what else is out there.”

“It’s very complex. We want more witnesses to come forward. There were a lot of people at that party,” he added.

When reached for comment and asked about the suspects, Jimmy Lee, the Director of Public Affairs for the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff responded, “They have either been released or are in the process.”

“We stand by our investigation and the arrests were made pursuant to a judge’s order,” he continued. “Although the district attorney may want more investigation done, the persons arrested and responsible for these crimes will ultimately be held to account. The entire investigation is ongoing, as is common in these types of complex cases.”

Sheriff expects more arrests in Orinda Halloween party killings

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The five suspects arrested are (l-r) Jason Iles, Shamron Mitchell, Devin Williamson, Lebraun Wallace and Jaquez Deshawn Sweeney. Photos by CoCoSheriff.

Shootings were result of rival gangs

By Daniel Borsuk

More arrests are expected to be made in connection with the Orinda Airbnb case where five people were shot and killed on Halloween night, Contra Costa County Sheriff David O. Livingston said at a press conference Friday afternoon.

Unable to provide further details, the sheriff said that five suspects had been arrested on Friday in connection with the Orinda shootings on Friday that had ties with two Bay Area gangs – the Page Street Gang of San Francisco and the Marin City Jungle Gang of Marin City.

Sheriff Livingston said he expects any additional persons arrested in the Orinda Airbnb case will likely have gang affiliations. He would not elaborate.

The five suspects under arrest are identified as:

  • Shamron Mitchell, 30, of Antioch. Mitchell was arrested on the charges of murder and conspiracy. He is being held without bail.
  • Lebraun Wallace, 28, of San Mateo. Wallace was arrested on the charges of murder and conspiracy. He is being held without bail.
  • Jaquez Deshawn Sweeney, 20, of Marin City. Sweeney was arrested on the charges of murder and conspiracy. He is being held without bail.
  • Jason Iles, 20, of Marin City. Iles was arrested on the charges of murder and conspiracy. He is being held without bail.
  • Devin Williamson, 21, of Vallejo. Williamson was arrested on the the charges of being an accessory. He is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail.

“Extraordinary cooperation among multiple law enforcement agencies led to these arrests and a small measure of justice for the true victims,” said Sheriff Livingston.

“We have video showing a number of people at the party had carried firearms and secreted their firearms in their pants once the shooting spree in the house had subsided,” the sheriff said.

Four firearms were recovered by law enforcement authorities at the crime scene, Sheriff Livingston said.

“We believe people at the party had intent to do harm at this party,” the sheriff said in reference to potential connections with other gangs in the Bay Area. “Additionally, evidence shows two of the deceased persons inside the house were themselves armed, which may have played a role in this tragedy,”

Those victims, who had possessed weapons, were Ramon Hill Jr., 24, of San Francisco/Oakland and Javin County, 29, of Sausalito/Richmond.

Other murder victims were Tiyon Farley, 22, of Antioch; Omar Taylor, 24, of Pittsburg; and Oshiana Tompkins, 19, of Vallejo/Hercules, according to the sheriff’s office. Five additional victims suffered gunshot wounds. One person jumped 30 feet over a balcony to escape the gunfire, said deputies.

“The blame rests specifically on the people who brought guns into the party, pulled the trigger and murdered someone. That’s who should have the blame in this case,” said the sheriff.

The sheriff said neither the Orinda police, the homeowner, nor Airbnb deserve blame in this case.

In the aftermath of the crime, Orinda Mayor Inga Miller said the city council is expected to consider tougher home rental ordinance proposals that would apply to Airb&b at Tuesday’s council meeting. “I want to thank the Contra Costa County Sheriffs Office and other local law enforcement agencies for the resources they have deployed into resolving this heinous crime,” said Miller

The Antioch Police Department, San Mateo Police Department, Vallejo Police Department, Marin County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshalls Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Federal Bureau of Investigation assisted in the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff in this case.

Persons with any information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Body found in Pittsburg park identified as Brentwood man missing since Oct. 8

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By Allen Payton

According to family members on Friday night and confirmed by the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff, Saturday afternoon, the body found by a hiker in John Henry Johnson Park in Pittsburg on Thursday, Nov. 7 is that of Kyle Beard of Brentwood, who has been missing since October 8. (See related article)

Family members and friends distributed flyers in English and Spanish on Facebook and through local media about Beard, also known as Kyle Young, who was last seen near Railroad Avenue and Buchanan in Pittsburg, not far from the park.

On Saturday morning, a family member informed the Herald that a “detective went to his mom’s house last night”.

No other information was provided by the Sheriff’s Office. Please check back later for any updates to this report.

Body found by hiker at park in Pittsburg, Sheriff’s Deputies investigate

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By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

On Thursday, November 7, 2019, at about 5:12 PM, Muir Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to a report of a found body in a remote part of John Henry Johnson Park in Pittsburg.

The body was discovered by a hiker. It appeared the remains had been at the location for some time.

The Coroner’s Division took custody of the body and is trying to identify the man. An autopsy will be scheduled to find the cause of death.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Five victims identified in Orinda shooting on Halloween, four from Contra Costa County

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Renter lied about reason for renting Airbnb home.

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

The Orinda Police Department and the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff continue to investigate a shooting that occurred on the 100 block of Lucille Way in Orinda on Thursday, October 31, 2019, at about 10:50 PM.

Orinda Police Officers, along with law enforcement officers from throughout the county, arrived on scene and found a house party with over 100 attendees. The party-goers apparently came from throughout the Bay Area for the Halloween event, which was advertised on social media. The party took place in a home that was found on a short-term rental website.

According to the Associated Press, the home was rented by a woman who “lied to her Airbnb host, saying she only needed a place to keep her family members away from wildfire smoke”.

Arriving Officers found a highly chaotic scene that included gunshot victims, injured party-goers, and numerous people fleeing the scene. Officers triaged the victims, cleared the location for safety and safeguarded the crime scene. Law enforcement officers found three gunshot victims who were later pronounced deceased at the scene. Another died at the hospital.

The victims are identified as 22-year-old Tiyon Farley of Antioch, 24-year-old Omar Taylor of Pittsburg, 23-year-old Ramon Hill Jr. of San Francisco/Oakland and 29-year-old Javin County of Sausalito/Richmond. An additional victim has been pronounced deceased at a local hospital. She is identified as 19-year-old Oshiana Tompkins of Vallejo/Hercules. There are now a total of five fatalities in this shooting.

Several other victims were transported to local hospitals by ambulance, while some victims transported themselves to the hospital. The injured suffered from gunshot wounds and injuries sustained while fleeing the scene.

A number of law enforcement agencies from the Bay Area assisted during the initial response as well as during the ongoing investigation. These include the Contra Costa D.A.’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Sheriff’s Office Forensic Services Division Crime Lab responded to the home to process the scene. Two firearms were located in the house. The Crime Lab is analyzing the weapons to determine if they were used in the shooting or any other crimes. Numerous shell casings found at the scene are being processed and analyzed by the Crime Lab.

The investigation into this incident is ongoing with numerous interviews of witnesses and the analysis of evidence. The suspect is still outstanding.

Orinda Police Officers were yesterday called to the house at 9:19 PM and 10:25 PM regarding a noise complaint. At 10:48 PM, an officer was headed to the home to investigate the calls. The initial reports of shooting came in around 10:50 PM.

Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Orinda Police Department or Office of the Sheriff at (925) 646-2441. The Investigation Division can be reached at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

At least three people dead, others injured in shooting at Orinda Halloween party Thursday night

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Sheriff’s Detectives investigate

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

On Thursday night, October 31, 2019, at about 10:50, Orinda Police Officers were dispatched to reports of a shooting at a residence on the 100 block of Lucille Way in Orinda.

Orinda officers, assisted by law enforcement officers from the area, arrived on scene and found a large house party with over 100 attendees.

There were three apparent gunshot victims who were pronounced deceased at the scene. Another died later at the hospital.

Other victims were taken to local hospitals by ambulance. The exact number is unknown as some victims transported themselves to the hospital.

A KTVU Fox2 News report gave the number of deceased victims at four, with a fourth having died at the hospital.

The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Forensic Services Division Crime lab and Detectives from the Homicide Unit responded to the scene. The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Orinda Police Department or Office of the Sheriff at (925) 646-2441. The Investigation Division can be reached at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Sheriff’s Deputies investigate Thursday death of San Pablo man struck by train in Richmond

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By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

Thursday morning, Oct. 17, 2019 at about 10:45, Bay Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to the train tracks near Parr Boulevard and Giant Road in North Richmond regarding a found male body.

The Richmond Police Department was already on scene. It was initially believed the man died after being struck by a train. As this occurred in Sheriff’s Office jurisdiction, Deputies began an investigation. They noticed the man suffered from a gunshot wound.

Detectives from the Homicide Unit and the Forensic Services Division Crime Lab responded to the scene.

The victim is identified as 40-year-old William Cody Tate of San Pablo.  On Friday, October 18, 2019, an autopsy was conducted to determine the cause of death. The Forensic Pathologist found no evidence of a gunshot wound.  The cause of death for Tate is listed as blunt force trauma and the injuries are consistent with being struck by a train.

This case is still under investigation.

Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff at (925) 646-2441 or Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Child molestation suspect from Walnut Creek dies in custody at West County Detention Facility Wednesday

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Enrique Pina. Photo by Walnut Creek PD.

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

At approximately 1:40 PM today, Wednesday, October 16, 2019, a Deputy Sheriff was conducting room checks at the West County Detention Facility (WCDF) in Richmond. While approaching a room, he noticed an inmate hanging from his bunk by a bedsheet. The Deputy Sheriff, as well as medical staff at the jail, immediately began lifesaving measures. The inmate was later pronounced deceased.

The inmate is identified as 72-year-old Enrique Pina of Walnut Creek. He was arrested on September 24, 2018 and has been in custody since then. He was arrested by the Office of the Sheriff and booked on nine felony charges that include sodomy with a child who is 10 years of age or younger, oral copulation of a child who is 10 years of age or younger, and using force to commit lewd and lascivious acts against a child under the age of 14. Pina was being held in lieu of $4.8 million bail.

Pina, who was also suffering from a terminal illness, was evaluated last month by a Mental Health Clinician from Contra Costa Mental Health (CCMH). Pina was cleared to remain on the module at WCDF and was being monitored by CCMH.

The in-custody death protocol was invoked. The investigation is ongoing by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff.

Any inquiries regarding Pina’s medical and mental health should be directed to Contra Costa Health Services. The Health Services’ Public Information Officer can be reached at (925) 957-2681.

Sheriff’s Deputies make arrest for pointing laser at rescue helicopter Friday

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Contra Costa County Sheriff STARR Air Unit 1 2015. Photo by CCCSheriff

By Office of the Contra Costa County Sheriff

While assisting a law enforcement agency with a pursuit on Friday, Sheriff’s Office STARR 3 helicopter was hit continuously with a green laser that came from an uninvolved vehicle. This is dangerous as it can temporarily blind the pilot.

Once STARR 3 cleared the pursuit, it was able to direct ground units to the location of the suspect vehicle where the laser was discharged. Deputies arrested and booked the suspect for discharging a laser at an aircraft and probation violation. A green laser was recovered.