Lawrence Janson, a 17-year-old student from Concord, California, tragically lost his life on November 6, 2017. Lawrence was a senior at Olympic Continuation High School. On that fateful day, he was shot three times around 1:30 p.m. after leaving campus with a few friends. The incident occurred near the corner of Salvio and Beach streets, just a block from his school. A black sedan approached the group, and after an exchange of angry words, a passenger exited the vehicle and opened fire.
Lawrence attempted to run back to his school but collapsed and was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The investigation into Lawrence's death led to the swift arrest of five suspects, all from Concord. The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office filed charges against four of them. Kristhiam Uceda, a 20-year-old Concord resident, was charged with murder. Bryan Sermeno-Chachagua, an 18-year-old from Concord, was charged with hiding the gun used in the shooting. Two 17-year-old boys were also charged; one with murder for driving the car involved in the incident, and the other with hiding the gun after the shooting. The fifth suspect, a juvenile, was taken into custody but not charged.
The police investigation revealed that the shooting was not gang-related, as none of the suspects were documented gang members. Surveillance video from the school and witness interviews played a crucial role in identifying and apprehending the suspects. The murder weapon and the vehicle used in the shooting were both recovered by the police. Despite the arrests, the motive behind the shooting remained unclear.
Lawrence's death shocked the community, and a makeshift memorial was set up outside his school. His family, friends, and school staff were left grieving the loss of a well-liked student who was known for his involvement in wrestling and football. The community rallied around his family, raising funds through a GoFundMe page to support them during this difficult time. The case highlighted the senseless nature of the violence that claimed the life of a promising young individual.
