ANTIOCH — The mayor of Antioch called a weekend shooting at a teen birthday party that killed an 18-year-old girl and wounded six others a “horrific incident” and again called for the firing of officers involved in the department’s racist-texting scandal to free up their positions for new hires.
Mayor Lamar Thorpe released a statement early Monday, saying his “heart is with the victims and families” and insisting on swift change.
“Each day these officers are on leave is another day we are prevented from having a stronger police presence on our streets to deter and/or respond to gun violence,” Thorpe added.
Antioch police continued to investigate the shooting Monday. It happened on Sunset Lane near Mountaire Park about 1 a.m. Sunday. Police said uninvited guests came to the party sometime before the gunfire started.
Authorities on Monday did not identify the 18-year-old girl who was killed, citing the investigation. She died at a hospital after being rushed there in an ambulance.
The six who were injured all were 20 years old or younger. They included one 18-year-old and one 20-year-old man, as well two 19-year-old and two 20-year-old women.
Some of the victims drove themselves to the hospital, police said. None of the injuries to that group was considered life-threatening, they said.
Police have not identified any suspects or persons of interest publicly.
“Birthdays are one of the most intimate and sacred celebrations in everyone’s life,” Thorpe said in his statement. “They represent growth, reflection and appreciation for life’s gifts. Over the weekend, one such celebration was cut short as a result of gun violence.”
Thorpe said he met with police Chief Steve Ford about the shooting and urged him again to fire the officers involved in a racist texting scandal that has gained national attention and shamed the department. For years, Antioch officers routinely used private text messaging groups to flaunt their racist views, spouting slurs in front of superiors without fear of reprisal.
The scandal has involved a total of 44 officers, about half the department, though not all are accused of sending racist texts. Cases involving serious crimes have already been disrupted by the revelations, including the dismissal of charges and a major payment from the county to help assess how big the problem is.
It was unclear whether the shooting tied up resources from other calls.
Messages left with Antioch police spokesperson Ashley Crandell were not returned.
Thorpe said he repeated to the chief his position that the officers caught in the scandal should be fired. The state’s Department of Justice is investigating those allegations.
“The officers involved in the racist text-messaging scandal (who are currently on administrative leave) need to be fired immediately,” Thorpe said. “(Then) we can free up those positions and hire new police officers directly from the academy.”
Source: www.mercurynews.com