(KRON) — The Antioch Police Department is asking for the community’s help following a flurry of recent shootings and a homicide.
Elijah Scales, 21, was shot in Antioch on September 2 and he died four days later. Since the homicide, Antioch PD said it has responded to nearly a dozen shootings that may be related to Scales’ slaying.
The most recent shooting happened Monday night at a memorial ceremony for Scales on Cavallo Road. A 58-year-old man was shot at the ceremony and he is currently in critical condition at a hospital, police said.
Scales is survived by his 2-year-old daughter, a GoFundMe page states. She was her father’s “pride and joy,” a family member wrote on Facebook. “He loved his daughter so much. It’s heart-wrenching even just having to imagine her growing up without him.”
The GoFundMe page writes, “Elijah spent four days in the ICU fighting for his life. On September 6th at 10:11 am, Elijah took his last breath. The family is so blindsided by this tragic incident.”
Within just the past five days, eight shootings have occurred in Antioch, police said. Some of the violence broke out near where Scales was shot on Peppertree Way.
“This spate of violence will not be tolerated,” Police Chief Brian Addington said Tuesday. “We have rearranged staffing and assigned two officers to patrol the Sycamore Corridor. This effort aims to reduce gun violence and provide a sense of safety to the community and local businesses.”
Anyone with information about the shootings is encouraged to contact Sgt. Bill Whitaker by calling 925-779-6876 or emailing wwhitaker@antiochca.gov.
The following timeline was released by the Antioch Police Department:
September 2 at 9:35 p.m.: Elijah Scales was shot in the head on the 2100 block of Peppertree Way. He died from his gunshot injuries days later in a hospital.
September 3 at 7:26 p.m.: On the 2100 block of Peppertree Way, multiple guns were used to fire at least 32 bullets. A 31-year-old man was shot in the leg.
September 4 at 8:59 p.m. on the same street block: Eleven bullets were fired from multiple guns. Bullets struck a building.
Antioch Police Department has just 31 patrol officers, union says September 7 at 9:31 p.m.: On Sycamore Drive at Peppertree Way, twenty-nine bullets were fired from multiple firearms. A 52-year-old woman was shot in the leg while in the parking lot of Sycamore Square.
September 12 at 8:21 p.m.: On the 2100 block of Lemontree Way, at least 26 bullets were fired. The gunfire struck two homes. One resident was grazed by a stray bullet and suffered a minor injury to his neck.
September 12 at 8:21 p.m.: On the 1000 block of Fitzuren Road, three bullets were fired and struck a business.
September 12 at 8:32 p.m.: On the 2900 block of Pear Street three shots were fired.
September 15 at 9:10 p.m.: On Sycamore Drive at Peppertree Way, a home and vehicle were struck by bullets as 13 shots were fired.
September 16 at 2:30 a.m.: On the 600 block of G Street, multiple gunmen fired at least 12 shots.
September 16 at 4:54 p.m.: A man was shot on the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds property while 30 bullets were fired. The man is currently in critical condition.
September 16 at 7:46 p.m.: Two businesses were struck by bullets while 50 shot were fired on L Street at William Reed.
September 16 at 7:48 p.m.: A memorial was being held for Scales on the 1800 block of Cavallo Road when someone opened fire. A 58-year-old man at the memorial was shot and suffered life-threatening injuries.
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