After months of questions and quiet anger in one Antioch neighborhood, prosecutors have charged a suspect in the 2024 killing of 48-year-old Raheem Coe, who was found dead on a sidewalk near the Antioch Health Center.
Coe was discovered shortly after 7 a.m. on May 15, 2024, in the 2200 block of Country Hills Drive. First responders found him unresponsive, and an autopsy later ruled his death a homicide, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The case quickly became a point of concern for neighbors and outreach workers, who built a small memorial at the site and pressed authorities for answers.
Now, Antioch police say they have their suspect. Investigators identified Ronald Benjamin Jackson III, and the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office has charged him with murder, kidnapping, and criminal threats, Mercury News reported. Detectives say they tied Jackson to the killing through physical evidence, witness interviews, and a careful review of surveillance video.
Police said Jackson was already in custody at San Quentin State Prison and is expected to be transferred to the Martinez Detention Facility to face the new charges, per the Mercury News. Once he is moved to Contra Costa County custody, prosecutors will review the case, file formal paperwork, and set an arraignment and other court dates.
How Investigators Say They Closed The Case
From the day Coe's death was ruled a homicide, detectives in the Antioch Police Department's Violent Crimes Unit were working the case, collecting evidence in the neighborhood and appealing to the public for help. They asked residents and drivers in the area for surveillance and dash-cam footage, according to Contra Costa News.
Authorities say it was that mix of physical evidence, video review, and old-fashioned witness interviews that finally produced the leads they needed. Those leads, investigators say, eventually pointed them to Jackson and set the stage for the new charges.
What Happens Next
The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office will prosecute the case, with arraignment and scheduling details expected to follow once Jackson is booked into the county jail. Members of the public with information about the killing are asked to contact Detective John Cox at 925-481-8147 or [email protected], the San Francisco Chronicle notes.
Friends and outreach workers who knew Coe have described him as a familiar face in the area who struggled with homelessness and mental health issues. One friend told KTVU, “He didn’t deserve to die like that,” and advocates have used his killing to call for more resources for residents living on the street.
As the case moves into the courts, Antioch police are still asking anyone with video or other tips to come forward.
