RICHMOND — The Point Richmond home where police shot and killed a man Wednesday contained at least one explosive device, along with numerous guns, police said.
Police evacuated the home as well as the residents of two neighboring homes after calling in a bomb squad late Wednesday, Richmond police Sgt. Donald Patchin said. Detectives continued to comb through the two-story residence Thursday morning.
They were expected to be there at least deep into the afternoon, Patchin said.
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At least one officer shot the man after police responded to the 1200 block of Sanderling Island about 9 a.m., Patchin said. The man died at the home despite treatment from officers, he said. Police confirmed his gender Thursday.
According to Patchin, the man was armed with a gun and approached officers with it after they entered the home.
Authorities have not identified the man, citing the investigation. They also did not identify the police who fired, though Patchin confirmed it was more than one officer.
The identifies of the dead man and officers are expected to come when the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office has finished its part of the investigation, Patchin said.
“They will examine the conduct of the officers,” he said. “Was there any wrongdoing? Were their actions justified? Police will continue to follow up on the criminal case.”
Police originally were called to investigate an incident Sunday in another part of Point Richmond during which a person brandished a gun. Patchin revealed Thursday that the person also fired the weapon during that incident.
Police were serving the warrant in connection with that investigation, he said.
“The victim of that brandishing provided specific information to the officers, which led us to this address,” Patchin said Thursday morning. “Beyond that, I can’t comment. I can tell you only that it was the initial brandishing and then firing of the weapon is how we ended up here.”
Investigators spent several hours Wednesday inside the home and removed numerous firearms, including belt-fed machine guns and what appeared to be privately manufactured AR-15-style rifles, according to police at the scene.
An officer also discovered possible live explosives, including at least one grenade, police at the scene said. Police called out a bomb squad, and they destroyed the device after removing it from the home, Patchin said.
Authorities evacuated the residence and two neighboring homes when the bomb squad was summoned, he said.
The residence is one of several bayfront homes near Brickyard Cove and the Richmond Yacht Club.
“The whole interior of the home at this point is considered a crime scene,” Patchin said.
Source: www.mercurynews.com