A Crockett rapper who performs under the name Top Shotta is facing a stack of serious felony charges after a November shooting beneath the Carquinez Bridge that prosecutors say involved firing at an occupied car. Court filings identify the defendant as 24-year-old Tino Abbate and allege he walked up to a vehicle parked under the bridge and fired a single shot. Abbate has pleaded not guilty, posted $200,000 bail, and is currently headed toward a trial date set for August 2026.
What prosecutors allege
Prosecutors have filed multiple felonies, including attempted murder, assault with a firearm, shooting into an occupied vehicle, and possessing a gun with a prior felony conviction, according to court records reviewed by The Mercury News. The outlet reports that Abbate was ordered to stand trial after a preliminary hearing in December 2025 and later entered a not-guilty plea.
Where the shooting happened
Court documents and charging papers place the shooting in November 2025 in a parking lot beneath the Carquinez Bridge in Crockett, near the intersection of Ceres Street and Sixth Avenue. Investigators identified Abbate as a suspect within days, according to the filings, and the case has been moving through Contra Costa Superior Court since then. The county's online case portal lists instructions for checking criminal dockets and upcoming hearing dates; see the Contra Costa Superior Court.
Investigators pointed to social posts
Investigators told The Mercury News they already knew of Abbate from prior contacts and from reviewing his social media accounts and music videos. Court records cited by the outlet say Abbate posted an Instagram photo that appears to show a masked man fanning a large stack of cash, and prosecutors say online posts helped steer their investigation toward him.
Background and legal stakes
Court papers state that Abbate is 24 and performs under the stage name Top Shotta. Police told reporters he has had prior run-ins with law enforcement, including a 2021 murder case in Alameda County that authorities said was handled in juvenile court, and that he was released in that matter because it was prosecuted in the juvenile system. If he is convicted on the most serious current charges, he could face decades in prison, and the weapons and prior-offense allegations would increase the potential penalties.
Next steps
Abbate is scheduled to return to Contra Costa Superior Court for additional pretrial hearings in the run-up to his August 2026 trial date. For now, the case remains active as prosecutors and defense attorneys prepare for what could be a long stretch of courtroom proceedings.
