On November 19, 2024, 32-year-old Willie Richardson IV was found with a gunshot wound on East 6th Street in Antioch, California. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital. This incident marked the 15th homicide in Antioch that year. The shooting was part of a recent surge in gun violence, with four incidents occurring over two days. Just hours after Richardson's death, another shooting occurred on Sycamore Drive, where police found a gun but no victim.
Authorities are investigating the shootings, which include a separate incident on Monday that injured a 27-year-old man. Police believe some of these shootings are connected, as the city faces increasing gun violence, particularly in the Sycamore corridor.
Willie Richardson IV had a prior arrest record. In 2023, he was arrested in Contra Costa County on charges including resisting or obstructing a peace officer, false imprisonment by violence, inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, and violation of parole related to felony assault with any means of force likely to produce great bodily injury.
As of now, there have been no public reports of arrests or identified suspects in connection with Richardson's death. The Antioch Police Department continues to investigate the incident and has not released further details. The community remains concerned about the recent uptick in gun violence, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward to assist in the investigation.
