Mario Ambriz Jr., a 28-year-old resident of Richmond, California, was tragically killed on the night of June 30, 2018. The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the Somewhere Else Sports Bar and Grill, located on the 5200 block of Sobrante Avenue in El Sobrante. When deputies arrived at the scene, they found Ambriz with multiple gunshot wounds. Despite their efforts to perform CPR, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
An autopsy later confirmed that he had been shot multiple times. This marked the first homicide in El Sobrante for the year 2018.
The investigation into Ambriz's death revealed that he was a member of the Norteño gang, specifically a clique centered in San Pablo. His murder was believed to be part of an ongoing conflict between the Norteños and the North Richmond gangs. The case took a significant turn when three individuals were charged in connection with his death. Deanzer A. Clark, 35, and Joseaphus Goodwin III, 39, were charged with conspiring to murder Ambriz. The charging documents suggested that the killing was, in part, retaliation for a similar homicide that occurred in 2014 at a bar in Pinole. Additionally, Gerald W. Robinson Jr., 45, was charged with conspiracy, robbery, and attempted murder in an unrelated incident involving the robbery of a member of rapper Lil Baby's entourage.
The investigation into Ambriz's murder was extensive, involving multiple law enforcement agencies. Authorities linked the suspects to the Project Trojans gang, based in North Richmond. The charging records detailed how the suspects had planned and executed the murder, highlighting the gang-related motives behind the crime. The case also shed light on the broader issue of gang violence in the area, prompting increased efforts by law enforcement to address and mitigate such conflicts.
The legal proceedings following the arrests were closely watched, as they involved not only the murder of Ambriz but also other serious crimes connected to the suspects. The charges brought against Clark, Goodwin, and Robinson underscored the severity of the gang-related violence and the complexities involved in prosecuting such cases. The community of El Sobrante, along with the families affected by these crimes, awaited justice as the legal process unfolded.
