I haven't seen the news tonight, but I'm sure this will be a topic of conversation. This is a picture a friend of ours took as he drove by the scene. Here's the update thus far:
Pittsburg police say lethal force necessary to stop rampaging suspect
By Simon Read
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Article Launched: 06/04/2008 09:24:44 AM PDT
Police said the use of lethal force in Tuesday's shooting of a suspect in Pittsburg was necessary to stop a "deadly rampage" after a high-speed chase that began with a stolen vehicle.
Pittsburg resident Jerry Richardson, 28, was shot and killed by an Antioch police officer after a pursuit in which the suspect rammed multiple patrol cars and — at one point — left the road to drive across someone's front yard, according to Pittsburg police.
"He was on a deadly rampage," Pittsburg police Lt. Brian Addington said. "His weapon of choice was a 2,000-pound vehicle — he was willing to run over anyone to get away."
Richardson, released from prison May 14, was being sought for violating parole.
"He got out of prison and absconded," Addington said. "He had an extensive criminal history, including resisting arrest, felonious evading in a vehicle and assault on a police officer."
A pizza delivery man was making a stop in the 400 block of East Santa Fe Avenue in Pittsburg at 12:45 p.m. Tuesday and left the keys in his white Toyota Corolla, Addington said. Richardson, walking down the street, got in the car and drove off.
"Residents told our responding officers who the suspect was, so we had his identity immediately and knew he was a wanted parolee," Addington said. "We broadcast the information to Contra Costa County police agencies and requested they be on the lookout for the vehicle."
At 1:20 p.m., an Antioch patrol officer spotted the Corolla near Mahogany Way, Addington said.
The officer followed Richardson into a small parking lot. "The officer pulled in behind him," Addington said. "Richardson makes a complete U-turn and rams the officer's car on the driver's side. It disabled the police car and was a clear, violent felony assault on an officer. Antioch units responding to the scene intercepted Richardson's car."
The suspect led police on a high-speed chase into Pittsburg, taking Century Boulevard onto East Leland Way, Addington said. Police said that during the pursuit, Richardson attempted to run over a police officer laying spiked strips across the roadway.
"At one point, his car was boxed in," Addington said, "but he backed up into the car behind him and managed to maneuver his car free and continue the chase. He was driving very erratically and showed a wanton disregard for public safety."
Richardson crashed into several parked cars during the pursuit, Addington said.
Richardson hit at least three Antioch police cars during the chase, Antioch Police chief Jim Hyde said.
"Several attempts were made to stop him with spiked strips," Addington said. "There was one point when he drove onto a front yard and took out a fence."
The chase came to an end at the intersection of West Leland Road and Crestview Drive after Richardson circled the neighborhood several times, police and witnesses said.
An Antioch police officer rammed Richardson's vehicle, boxing the Corolla between the police car and another car on the road, Addington said.
"Richardson put the vehicle in reverse and tried to back up," Addington said. "He then rammed the civilian car in front of him. There were a lot of civilians at the scene in addition to police officers; there were pedestrians watching on the sidewalk. Someone was going to get hurt."
Addington said the Antioch officer who hit Richardson's car shot the suspect to end the rampage before a civilian was injured or killed. The officer, a 15-year veteran, has been placed on administrative leave pending the results of an investigation by the Pittsburg and Antioch police departments, the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office and state parole officials.
"We have several witnesses who corroborate the extremely dangerous nature of the situation," Addington said. "Generally, an investigation like this takes months."
Pittsburg police say lethal force necessary to stop rampaging suspect
By Simon Read
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Article Launched: 06/04/2008 09:24:44 AM PDT
Police said the use of lethal force in Tuesday's shooting of a suspect in Pittsburg was necessary to stop a "deadly rampage" after a high-speed chase that began with a stolen vehicle.
Pittsburg resident Jerry Richardson, 28, was shot and killed by an Antioch police officer after a pursuit in which the suspect rammed multiple patrol cars and — at one point — left the road to drive across someone's front yard, according to Pittsburg police.
"He was on a deadly rampage," Pittsburg police Lt. Brian Addington said. "His weapon of choice was a 2,000-pound vehicle — he was willing to run over anyone to get away."
Richardson, released from prison May 14, was being sought for violating parole.
"He got out of prison and absconded," Addington said. "He had an extensive criminal history, including resisting arrest, felonious evading in a vehicle and assault on a police officer."
A pizza delivery man was making a stop in the 400 block of East Santa Fe Avenue in Pittsburg at 12:45 p.m. Tuesday and left the keys in his white Toyota Corolla, Addington said. Richardson, walking down the street, got in the car and drove off.
"Residents told our responding officers who the suspect was, so we had his identity immediately and knew he was a wanted parolee," Addington said. "We broadcast the information to Contra Costa County police agencies and requested they be on the lookout for the vehicle."
At 1:20 p.m., an Antioch patrol officer spotted the Corolla near Mahogany Way, Addington said.
The officer followed Richardson into a small parking lot. "The officer pulled in behind him," Addington said. "Richardson makes a complete U-turn and rams the officer's car on the driver's side. It disabled the police car and was a clear, violent felony assault on an officer. Antioch units responding to the scene intercepted Richardson's car."
The suspect led police on a high-speed chase into Pittsburg, taking Century Boulevard onto East Leland Way, Addington said. Police said that during the pursuit, Richardson attempted to run over a police officer laying spiked strips across the roadway.
"At one point, his car was boxed in," Addington said, "but he backed up into the car behind him and managed to maneuver his car free and continue the chase. He was driving very erratically and showed a wanton disregard for public safety."
Richardson crashed into several parked cars during the pursuit, Addington said.
Richardson hit at least three Antioch police cars during the chase, Antioch Police chief Jim Hyde said.
"Several attempts were made to stop him with spiked strips," Addington said. "There was one point when he drove onto a front yard and took out a fence."
The chase came to an end at the intersection of West Leland Road and Crestview Drive after Richardson circled the neighborhood several times, police and witnesses said.
An Antioch police officer rammed Richardson's vehicle, boxing the Corolla between the police car and another car on the road, Addington said.
"Richardson put the vehicle in reverse and tried to back up," Addington said. "He then rammed the civilian car in front of him. There were a lot of civilians at the scene in addition to police officers; there were pedestrians watching on the sidewalk. Someone was going to get hurt."
Addington said the Antioch officer who hit Richardson's car shot the suspect to end the rampage before a civilian was injured or killed. The officer, a 15-year veteran, has been placed on administrative leave pending the results of an investigation by the Pittsburg and Antioch police departments, the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office and state parole officials.
"We have several witnesses who corroborate the extremely dangerous nature of the situation," Addington said. "Generally, an investigation like this takes months."
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