Shooting, robbery suspect arrested in Pinole

 

UPDATE: 21-year-old Fairfield man on pre-trial release with history of arrests charged with attempted homicide, robbery and attempted carjacking; two Good Samaritans shot

By Allen D. Payton

On Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 27, 2023, Pinole Police Officers responded to and investigated a reported robbery with shots fired at the Chevron station at 2695 Pinole Valley Road. By 4:30 p.m. the suspect was detained, in-custody and a firearm recovered.

Police determined there was no continued threat to the public and officers concluded their investigation at the scene.

UPDATE: On Thursday, Dec. 28, Pinole Police Commander Matt Avery issued the following press release about the incident:

On December 27, 2023, at approximately 12:20 PM, Pinole Police dispatch received a 911 call from the Chevron, 2965 Pinole Valley Road, with a loud argument heard in the background, and then the call disconnected. While officers responded, several callers reported that a robbery had just occurred, and two subjects had been shot. The callers described the suspect and said the suspect fled north toward Jack in the Box

Officers arrived in the area, found the suspect on Pinole Valley Road under Interstate 80, and safely took him into custody. Additional officers responded to the Chevron and found two victims with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. Pinole Fire and AMR medics treated them as the scene and transported them to the hospital, where they were treated and later released.

Through interviews and reviewing video surveillance, officers determined that the suspect entered the convenience store and tried to make a purchase, but the transaction was declined. The suspect argued with the clerk and walked around the sales counter, where he tried to open the cash register but was unsuccessful. The suspect then ripped the register off the counter and the cables from the business telephone and exited the store.

The suspect attempted to carjack a vehicle in the Chevron lot, but the victim was able to get away. The suspect then walked over to a car parked at one of the pumps, broke out the passenger door window and stole a purse from the front seat. The suspect and victim struggled over the bag, and the suspect hit the victim several times, knocking her to the ground.

Two Good Samaritans saw the victim struggling with the suspect and intervened. The suspect then pulled out a firearm and fired multiple bullets at the Good Samaritans. Both sustained gunshot wounds but were able to retreat. The suspect fled on foot through the Jack in the Box lot and threw the firearm into the bushes. He attempted to carjack two additional vehicles as he ran and continued on foot north on Pinole Valley Road, where he was taken into custody by responding officers.

The firearm was later located and recovered with the assistance of a Concord Police Canine. The stolen purse and property belonging to the woman were recovered at the scene.

Our Criminal Investigation Division responded and assumed the investigation and is continuing to interview the victims and witnesses. The suspect, Demetrius Chafford, a 21-year-old male out of Fairfield, was found to be on pre-trial release for evading an officer and weapons violations out of Solano County.

Chafford was booked at the Martinez Detention Facility on multiple charged including two counts of attempted murder (Penal Code 664/187), two counts of assault with a deadly weapon (Penal Code 245(a)(2)), robbery (Penal Code 211), attempted robbery (Penal Code 664/211), three counts of attempted carjacking (Penal Code 664/215) and carrying a concealed firearm (Penal Coe 25850(a)).

This is an ongoing investigation and we ask anyone with information to contact Detective Dean at 510-724-1111.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, Chafford is being held on $1.55 million bail.

According to localcrimenews.com, he has a history of arrests dating to 2021 by multiple agencies including Solano County Sheriff’s Department, Vallejo Police Department and for various crimes of assault with a firearm on a person, trespassing by driving on private property, carrying a concealed firearm – pistol / revolver / other firearm, carrying a loaded firearm when not the registered owner, manufacture / import / sale of large-capacity magazine, change/alter/remove/obliterate ID marks on a firearm, receiving stolen property – motor vehicle, assault with a deadly weapon – no firearm/likely great bodily injury of a peace officer or fireman, carrying a loaded firearm on a person or in a vehicle while in a public place, evasion – wanton disregard for safety, carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, and large capacity magazine.

 

 

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.