Since Sept. 2, when 21-year-old Elijah Scales was gunned down within the 2100 block of Peppertree Way, 11 shootings have been recorded in town, Antioch police said in an announcement. Eight of the shootings occurred previously five days.
Acting Police Chief Brian Addington said he has adjusted staffing levels and assigned two officers to patrol the Sycamore Drive corridor for a minimum of the following seven days.
“These efforts are aimed at reducing gun violence and providing a sense of security to the community and local businesses,” he said. “This wave of violence will not be tolerated.”
The shootings could also be related to Scales' death, police said.
The first of the 11 shootings occurred on Sept. 3 at around 7:25 p.m. within the 2100 block of Peppertree Way. At least 32 shots were fired, and a 31-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, police said.
The next day, around 9 p.m., one other shooting occurred on the identical block of Peppertree Way. No one was injured, but a close-by constructing was hit by the gunfire.
The third shooting occurred on Sept. 7 at around 9:30 p.m. on the corner of Sycamore Drive and Peppertree Way. Police said a 52-year-old woman was shot within the leg within the car parking zone at Sycamore Square.
The fourth, fifth and sixth shootings occurred on September 12. The first was reported around 8:20 p.m. within the 2100 block of Lemontree Way, the second around 8:30 p.m. within the 1000 block of Fitzuren Road and the third around 8:30 p.m. within the 2900 block of Pear Street.
A neighborhood resident was grazed by a ricochet bullet through the shooting on Lemontree Way, police said.
The seventh shooting occurred on the corner of Sycamore Drive and Peppertree Way around 9:10 p.m. Sunday. No one was injured, but a close-by home and vehicle were struck by the gunfire.
The last 4 shootings occurred Monday, police said. The first was reported around 2:40 a.m. within the 600 block of G Street, the second just before 5 p.m. on the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds, the third around 7:45 p.m. at L Street and William Reed Drive and the fourth around 7:50 p.m. within the 1800 block of Cavallo Road.
A person suffered life-threatening injuries within the shooting on the exhibition center, police said.
Also in critical condition within the Cavallo Road shooting was a 58-year-old man who was attending a memorial service for Scales when a minimum of 4 shots were fired, police said.
Anyone with information in regards to the shootings should contact Detective Sgt. Bill Whitaker at 925-779-6876 or wwhitaker@antiochca.gov.
Check back later for updates.
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