An audacious car thief turned a quiet Antioch neighborhood into the Wild West late last night, firing at police in a reckless get-away attempt. According to an official release from the Antioch Police Department, the shootout and subsequent chase kicked off near Longbranch Way and Prairie Way yesterday after an officer stumbled upon a vehicle reported stolen from San Francisco.
The drama unfolded just past 10:26 pm when the suspect hammered the gas pedal of the stolen car, fleeing the scene at high speeds. In a brazen act of desperation, someone from within the car opened fire at the pursuing officer, peppering the patrol car with bullets. Although the harrowing pursuit spilled into Brentwood and onto Highway 4, the suspects vanished into the night around Golf Course Drive and Cache Peak. The vehicle was later found deserted near Kaiser Hospital on Deer Valley Road, according to the report from the Antioch Police Department.
But the night's chaos was far from over. While officers scoured the initial crime scene for evidence, they spotted a second stolen vehicle from Concord cruising sans headlights. In collaboration with Brentwood PD, officers chased until the suspects ditched the car, fleeing into the darkness near Lone Tree Way and Heidorn Ranch Road. Despite setting a perimeter, police came up empty-handed. A rifle and shell casings were recovered at the scene. Notably, there were no injuries reported among civilians or the police force.
The Antioch Police are tirelessly working with leads to pin down the culprits and have expressed gratitude towards the Brentwood Police Department and Pittsburg Police Department for their support during the incident. Although details are still scarce, the authorities urge anyone with information to contact Lieutenant Martin at 925-779-6972 or use the Antioch Police Department's non-emergency line at (925)778-2441. Updates on the case come courtesy of the Investigations Bureau, and further inquiries are to be directed via the Media Access Telephone Line at 925779-6874.
