On March 27, 2024, at approximately 5:22 a.m., Antioch police officers responded to the 600 block of East 18th Street following a report from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District regarding a deceased male with an apparent gunshot wound. Upon arrival, officers discovered 36-year-old Frank James inside a parked vehicle, having suffered at least one fatal gunshot wound.
The Antioch Police Department's Investigations Bureau, including Crime Scene Investigators and detectives from the Violent Crimes Unit, promptly took over the investigation.
Utilizing advanced technological tools and city surveillance cameras, detectives identified 29-year-old Jacob L. Crooks as the primary suspect in the homicide. An arrest warrant was subsequently obtained and disseminated to neighboring law enforcement agencies. On April 8, 2024, officers from the Walnut Creek Police Department conducted a traffic enforcement stop during which they apprehended Crooks. He was then booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on suspicion of murder, with bail set at $1.35 million.
Crooks, a resident of Antioch with a history of legal troubles, was on probation at the time of his arrest. His prior convictions include firearm possession by a felon or narcotic addict, carrying a loaded firearm, assault by force likely to cause great bodily injury, and possession of an assault weapon. Since 2021, he has been arrested multiple times for offenses such as attempted murder, firearms violations, and possession of controlled substances.
The case has been presented to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office for review. Authorities have indicated that the shooting appears to be an isolated incident, posing no immediate threat to the community. The Antioch Police Department continues to encourage anyone with additional information to come forward to assist in the ongoing investigation.
