22 Jan State DOJ Investigating Deadly Shooting by Richmond Police Officer; I-80 Still Closed

(Richmond Police Department via Bay City News)

By Kiley Russell
Bay City News

An investigation into a fatal shooting by a Richmond Police Department officer on Interstate Highway 80 in Hercules closed all westbound lanes for most of the day Thursday.

The shooting around 7:20 a.m. left one person dead, according to a statement from the California Department of Justice.
As of about 3:30 p.m., all westbound lanes were still closed.

The DOJ said it was investigating the death under the authority of Assembly Bill 1506, which requires an independent state investigation anytime a law enforcement officer shoots and kills an unarmed civilian.

Whatever the investigation turns up, it will be turned over to the department’s Special Prosecutions Section within the Criminal Law Division for review and possible charges.

No details about the shooting were immediately released.

In a message on social media posted at about 10:40 a.m., the California Highway Patrol said there was no estimate for when the “long-term” freeway closure will be lifted.

Currently, drivers are being re-routed off the freeway at the Hercules off-ramp and then directed back onto the westbound lanes at the Hercules on-ramp.

Drivers heading west from Solano County should avoid the area altogether by taking Interstate Highway 780 to Interstate Highway 680 to state Highway 24, according to the CHP, since traffic is backed up from Hercules all the way to the Carquinez Bridge.

Drivers should also avoid taking state Highway 4 west to I-80.

In addition to the DOJ, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office is also investigating the shooting.

A spokesperson for the District Attorney’s Office said the investigation involves multiple law enforcement agencies.

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