On July 28, 2020, Jose Antonio Salazar, a 32-year-old resident of Richmond, California, was tragically killed in a shooting incident. The fatal event occurred in the 900 block of 9th Street in Richmond's Triangle Court neighborhood. Police responded to the scene around 8:05 a.m. and found Salazar along with another gunshot victim. Unfortunately, Salazar succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The other victim, although seriously injured, survived the attack.
The investigation quickly led to the identification of a suspect, Leopold Hernandez, a 36-year-old resident of Richmond. Within 12 hours of the shooting, Hernandez was apprehended by the police. He was arrested without incident in the 200 block of 23rd Street later that evening. Hernandez faced multiple charges, including murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle, and weapons violations. The Contra Costa District Attorney's office filed these charges, and Hernandez was held in custody on a $3.2 million bail.
The motive behind the shooting was not immediately clear, and further details were not disclosed at the time. Hernandez had a prior criminal record, including a conviction for robbery in 2009. The case against him proceeded with his arraignment scheduled shortly after his arrest. The community of Richmond was left grappling with the loss of Salazar and the violence that led to his untimely death.
