After almost two decades, the Pittsburg Police Department has closed a 17-year-old homicide case thanks to DNA evidence that led to a recent conviction. On September 9, Desante Blake, an Antioch resident, entered a no-contest plea to various charges, including Manslaughter and Attempted Robbery, about the 2007 fatal shooting of Larry Abercrombie Sr. in front of his home. Today, as reported by the Pittsburg Police Department, Blake received a 23-year state prison sentence.
According to the Pittsburg Police Department, the case saw its turning point in 2023 when Touch DNA samples from the victim's clothing were processed, yielding a CODIS database match that implicated Blake. However, there was the discovery in 2010 of a handgun magazine and purchase receipt for the firearm. The actual gun was not found until the 2023 search of Blake's home, where it was hidden in a jacket pocket along with other illegal firearms. Ballistic tests further confirmed that the weapon was indeed the one used in the shooting, and Blake's DNA conclusively linked him to the crime scene.
The diligent work of many detectives, patrol officers, and DA investigators, supplemented by community support, culminated in justice for the Abercrombie family. "The combined efforts of numerous dedicated detectives, patrol officers, DA investigators, and support from our community partners resulted in the final charges and today's sentence," the Pittsburg Police Department stated.
