Suffering from delusions, shot dog, shot up house
By Lt. Matt Avery, Pinole Police Department
On Sunday, May 2, 2021 at approximately 10:30 PM, the Pinole Police Department responded to a residence in the 700 block of Marlesta Road regarding a mother reporting her 32-year-old son was suffering from delusions and making paranoid statements, and in possession of her handgun. The mother left the house for her safety to meet with officers at a secondary location.
Minutes later, a second caller reported hearing gunshots coming from the house. Officers responded to and searched the house but did not locate anyone. Officers did find a Pit bulldog in the house suffering from at least one gunshot wound and unfortunately the dog succumbed to its injuries. Officers discovered bullet holes and bullet casings in the house as well as a large capacity magazine to a second type of handgun leading officers to believe the subject was in possession of two handguns. Witnesses advised officers the subject left in a white Infiniti I30.
The subject’s vehicle alerted on ALPR cameras in the San Pablo area and around 12:45 AM cell phone information revealed the vehicle was back in the Pinole area. Approximately 2:00 AM, officers located the vehicle traveling without its lights on eastbound San Pablo Avenue near Sunnyview Drive. The vehicle continued travelling as officers positioned themselves to make an enforcement stop. The vehicle turned onto Kilkenny Way from Tara Hills Drive and then pulled to the curb before officers activated their emergency equipment. The driver, the only occupant, fled on foot west on Kilkenny Way.
With the assistance of the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department (CCCSO), the Hercules and San Pablo Police Departments, a perimeter was established, and officers followed the subject as he moved on foot on Kilkenny Way and then north on Kildare Way. Officers made contact with the subject verbally and via cell phone, but he refused to surrender, and repeatedly ducked between and hid behind vehicles parked in the area. A shelter in place was issued requesting residents to remain in their house, lock their doors and shut their windows.
Officers continued to negotiate with the subject, but he still refused to surrender. CCCSO negotiators responded and continued to negotiate with the subject. Just before 9:30 AM, the negotiators were able to convince the subject to discard two handguns he was in possession of and then surrendered peacefully to CCCSO SWAT members. The shelter in place was lifted shortly thereafter.
The subject was transported to the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center for a mental health evaluation. We are still investigating the incident and we will be pursuing the following criminal charges: unlawful possession of a firearm (PC 25850(c)(6)), felon in possession of a firearm (PC 30305(a)(1)), negligent discharge of a firearm (PC 246.3), carrying a concealed firearm (PC25400(a)(2)), possession of an extended magazine (PC 32310(a)), and animal cruelty (PC 597).
During the entire incident, the subject did not threaten officers, or threaten to harm himself or anyone else. Neither the subject or any officers were injured, and we want to thank the allied agencies for helping us resolve the incident peacefully.
The investigation is on-going and anyone with information is asked to call the Pinole Police Department’s non-emergency line at 510-724-8950.
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