Contra Costa DA: Pittsburg police justified in fatal shooting of domestic violence suspect

PITTSBURG – A report by the Contra Costa County District Lawyer’s Workplace launched Friday concluded that Pittsburg Police had been justified within the lethal capturing of a person suspected in a home dispute final yr.

In accordance with the report (.pdf), no costs will probably be filed in opposition to Ofc. John Odell and Ofc. Greg Simpson, who shot Patrick Watkins throughout a confrontation on Might 20, 2021.

“The concluding opinion decided the actions by the peace officers in opposition to Patrick Watkins was justified in using deadly drive,” District Lawyer Diana Becton’s workplace mentioned Friday.

On that evening, officers had been known as to an condominium advanced on the 2300 block of Loveridge Highway after a girl reported her ex-boyfriend was armed and attempting to interrupt into her condominium.

When police arrived, they discovered Watkins. In accordance with prosecutors, the person ignored instructions and walked up a stairwell towards the lady’s residence.

After officers adopted the person up the stairwell, prosecutors mentioned Watkins confronted away from the officers after which turned in the direction of them with a semiautomatic firearm.

Odell then fired three pictures on the man earlier than his weapon malfunctioned and dropped to a inclined place, prosecutors mentioned. Simpson, believing that his colleague was shot, fired two pictures at Watkins.

He was pronounced lifeless on the scene.

An post-mortem decided Watkins suffered two gunshot wounds throughout the incident. A toxicology report decided that Watkins had amphetamine, methamphetamine and THC in his system.

“Each officers acted with an precise and cheap perception that lethal drive was vital on this incident to defend in opposition to an imminent menace of loss of life or nice bodily damage,” the DA’s workplace mentioned.

In accordance with prosecutors, Watkins’ household and the California Lawyer Normal’s Workplace have been notified of the report.