Richmond Police investigate Oakland Police shooting death of kidnapping suspect following chase Thursday

Suspect rammed Oakland Police cars injuring two officers

By Richmond and Vallejo Police Departments

On Thursday, April 16th, 2020, at approximately 8:08 AM, the Vallejo Police Department received a call from concerned family members about a missing 29-year-old female.

Family members last saw the victim at approximately 7:35 AM, in the 900 block of Kentucky Street in the City of Vallejo with suspect Juan Ayon-Barraza, a 24-year-old Vallejo resident.

The victim told family members that she was leaving to get breakfast with him and would return. A short time later, Barraza, made contact with a family member of the victim via telephone, where he made an unsettling comment – causing them to be extremely concerned for her well-being.

At approximately 8:00 AM, the victim’s family contacted Barraza in person and confronted him in an attempt to determine the victim’s whereabouts. Barraza was evasive with the family and then fled from them.

Utilizing every resource available, the Vallejo Police Department Detective Division worked this case diligently as an at-risk missing person case.

According to a KTVU Fox 2 report, the man was suspected of kidnapping and beating the woman, then leaving her in the Oakland hills.

At 6:45 PM the Oakland Police Department Communications Division received a report from a concerned citizen in the city limits of Moraga after observing a subject discarding what appeared to be a body on the side of the road from a white van.

The body reported in Moraga was found to be a female victim abandoned on the side of the road in the area of Pinehurst Road and Skyline Boulevard, in unincorporated Contra Costa County, which at the time was believed to be related to Vallejo’s investigation. She was later confirmed to be the at-risk missing person from Vallejo. She was still alive but unresponsive and transported to a local hospital, where she was treated for at least one gunshot wound. The victim is presently in critical condition.

Due to the location of the incident Oakland and Moraga Police, and Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the area as it is a remote, rural area along the border of Alameda and Contra Costa counties. A witness provided of the suspect vehicle as a white Chevy Astro van.

As officers responded to the area, a Moraga Police officer located the suspect vehicle and attempted a traffic enforcement stop. The suspect vehicle failed to stop, and a pursuit ensued. As the pursuit went toward Oakland, Oakland PD officers joined in and ultimately became lead as it entered their jurisdiction.

The suspect vehicle led Oakland PD officers on a pursuit via the freeways to the city of Richmond. During the pursuit, officers could see Barraza was armed with a handgun as he was driving at high speeds. The pursuit went through multiple streets in Richmond to the area of South 37th Street and Stege Avenue. The pursuit lasted for approximately twenty minutes in length.

While making a U-turn on S. 37th Street at Carlson Boulevard, the suspect pointed his firearm at pursuing officers. Multiple Oakland police officers and a Richmond police officer fired their weapons in defense of their and/or other lives, simultaneously, the suspect vehicle crossed over into traffic on South 37th Street and Stege Ave. and collided with an Oakland police vehicle. (See Richmond PD video)

Two Oakland police officers were injured during the collision, both considered moderate and non-life threatening. One officer has been treated and released while the other officer remains in a local hospital. The suspect sustained a fatal gunshot wound during this incident. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. The female victim sustained critical injuries and was transported to a local hospital. The female victim is currently listed in critical condition and is on life support.

This is an ongoing investigation that involved multiple agencies including Oakland Police Department, Richmond Police Department, Vallejo Police Department, Moraga Police Department, Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department, Contra Costa County Crime Lab and Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office. This incident is being investigated as a part of the Contra Costa County Law Enforcement Incident Fatality (LEIF) protocol.

If you have any additional information regarding this investigation, please contact the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office at 925-957-2200 or Sergeant Pomeroy with the Richmond Police Department at 510-620-6616 or Vallejo Police Detective Craig Long at (707) 648-4514 or Detective Josh Caitham at (707) 648-4342.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.