Blake Mohs, a 26-year-old Home Depot security guard and aspiring police officer, was tragically slain in Pleasanton while attempting to stop a shoplifter in April. His final text to his mentor a week before the incident expressed his desire to join the Newark Police Department. Three months on, a candlelight vigil organized by the community and law enforcement agencies honored Blake's memory, while his family navigates a struggle to attain justice according to CBS News.

 

Blake Mohs, who grew up in Newark, dreamed of becoming a police officer. A week before his murder, he texted his mentor, Newark Police Lt. Sal Sandoval that he was looking to make the transition. This was his final message 💔💔 pic.twitter.com/KsAaJe6OJ8

— Betty Yu (@bett_yu) July 20, 2023

 

On April 2023, Blake Mohs confronted a 32-year-old suspect, Benicia Knapps, who was attempting to steal a power tool charger. After retrieving the item, Knapps re-entered the store, shooting Mohs at close range. Knapps then fled the scene in a getaway car driven by David Guillory, with her 2-year-old child also inside the vehicle. Knapps was later arrested for Mohs' murder.

(Pleasenton PD - Benicia Knapps)

Blake Mohs was heavily involved in the Boy Scouts throughout his life and had participated in the police explorer and cadet program. His passion for joining the Newark Police Department was showcased when he texted his mentor, Newark Police Lt. Sal Sandoval, about his plans of sending out applications per a tweet by Betty Yu.

Mohs' family is now caught in a battle with Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price, urging her to seek the maximum punishment for the killers. Price, a progressive prosecutor who focuses on restorative justice, faces criticism for her leniency towards criminals. A recall campaign, "Save Alameda For Everyone (SAFE): Recall DA Price," was launched according to Hoodline. Critics claim Price's soft-on-crime policies embolden criminals, while supporters believe she addresses systemic inequities in the criminal justice system.

Lori Mohs, Blake's mother, testified during a House Judiciary Committee hearing in June, addressing the Alameda County DA's office. Her frustration and search for justice have led her and her family to confront the complexities of the criminal justice system, and the reluctance of progressive prosecutors like Price to pursue maximum punishments.

When questioned about Lori's testimony, DA Price refused to comment, highlighting the contentious nature of the ongoing case and Price's own struggles as a public figure. However, the Mohs family has found support from the Newark Police Department, which attended the candlelight vigil organized in Blake's honor, demonstrating their solidarity in seeking justice for the fallen community member.

The tragic death of Blake Mohs and the subsequent fight for justice by his family have shed light on the larger conversation surrounding criminal justice reform, the role of progressive prosecutors, and the balance between rehabilitation and punishment as Hoodline noted.