After months of investigations into a series of unsettling drive-by shootings that rattled Newark, a breakthrough has been made with the arrest of a suspect, bringing a cautious sense of relief to the community. Since December, multiple incidents have been reported, including three on December 20, 2024, and the most recent on February 24, where a barrage of bullets left a home and several cars in disrepair, fortunately, without injuring any individuals.
Xavier Medina, a 19-year-old Newark resident, was identified by the astute detectives of the Southern Alameda County Major Crimes Task Force (SACMCTF) as the alleged perpetrator in at least three of these disturbing events. In a coordinated effort, they managed to apprehend the suspect on April 1 in Oakland safely, and the subsequent charges came heavily laden with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling, committing a felony while on bail, and several accompanying enhancements.
Commending this breakthrough, Chief Jonathan Arguello asserted, per the Newark Police Department, “We will not tolerate acts of violence against our community and remain committed to bringing those responsible to justice.”
