Melen testified that after the shooting, Jones’ wife posted to Facebook that Jones, “never wanted to hurt anyone. Danville police Detective Jay Melen, who at the time was an investigator with the sheriff’s department, testified Jones had confronted a security guard in the gated community earlier in the evening, and spoken to his wife about forming a vigilante group of neighbors over concerns that crime was rising in the area.īoth Morris, Sears, and a third deputy who was present but didn’t shoot Jones testified that he pointed the arrow rifle at officers several times during the encounter. Garcia testified Jones was about 50 feet away, and had taken about 15 steps toward the officers when they began firing. The officers testified they believed it was either a hunting rifle or shotgun at the time.Īll-day gun battle: Salinas man dies in apartment after shooting deputy, seven drones When two deputies entered the home, he allegedly brandished a knife and picked up an air rifle that shoots arrows, a weapon used for hunting or archery. Police had been called there for a report that he’d shoved his wife and was acting erratically. on the 8000 block of Westport Circle in Discovery Bay. Typically the votes are unanimous, but Friday was far from it of the 15 jurors, eight voted to rule Jones’ death a homicide, and seven voted for suicide.ĭespite the narrow margin, homicide will stand as the official manner of death. The decision carries no criminal nor civil liability. The Maincident was recounted on Friday by five law enforcement officials - three who were present, and two who investigated the aftermath of the shooting.Ĭoroner’s inquests are held for every law enforcement-involved fatality in Contra Costa, and juries are asked to classify each death. Police say the injuries to his back were a result of Jones twisting as bullets struck him. Robert Steven Jones was struck in the chest, back, and shoulder and died of those injuries a short time later, according to the pathologist who performed his autopsy. The law enforcement officers thought Jones was holding a rifle, Becton wrote.MARTINEZ - A 51-year-old Discovery Bay man was shot 10 times by five sheriff’s deputies and Oakley police officers as he walked toward them with an arrow-shooting rifle in his hands, according to testimony at a coroner’s inquest Friday. As such, no further action will be taken at this time.”Īccording to the report, Jones first brandished a knife before picking up an Arrow Rifle, which authorities said can fire an arrow at a speed of 300 feet per second and cause death. The officers acted with an actual and reasonable belief that deadly force was necessary to defend against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury. Kevin Morris and Officer Tyler Radcliffe.īecton in the report wrote that the five “were justified in their use of lethal force. Amanda Sears, Deputy Antonia Powell and Deputy Kevin Duke, and Oakley police Sgt. Those who fired were Contra Costa sheriff’s Sgt. to the 8000 block of Westport Circle in Discovery Bay. The fatal encounter happened after deputies yelled at Jones for more than 20 seconds as he advanced about 40 feet toward them, Becton wrote in the report.ĭeputies had responded about 8:45 p.m. A Discovery Bay man shot to death by Contra Costa County sheriff’s deputies and Oakley police officers last year assumed a classic firing stance as he pointed what they thought to be a rifle barrel as he approached them, justifying their actions, according to a report released Wednesday by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.ĭistrict Attorney Diana Becton released the Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Incident report on the death of 51-year-old Robert Steven Jones, who was shot 10 times by the three sheriff’s deputies and two Oakley police officers on March 22, 2022.
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