Breaking News
Updated: Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.
Richmond police are investigating a homicide after a person was found unconscious and later pronounced dead Monday afternoon inside an IHOP restaurant at the Hilltop Plaza, authorities said.
Officers responded at about 1:43 p.m. to assist the Richmond Fire Department at the restaurant in the 3400 block of Klose Way, where the incident was initially reported as a medical call, police said.
Worker fatally shot inside IHOP in Richmond
An employee was fatally shot inside an IHOP restaurant in Richmond, law enforcement authorities said.
Jodi Hernandez
“The victim had been alone and was discovered unconscious by coworkers, suffering from a head injury,” Lt. Donald Patchin said in a statement.
Fire personnel determined the injuries appeared suspicious and requested police assistance, Patchin said. Emergency medical responders attempted life-saving measures, but the victim died at the scene.
“The preliminary investigation revealed evidence leading officers to believe the victim may have been shot,” Patchin said.
Richmond Vice Mayor Cesar Zepeda told NBC Bay Area the victim may have been targeted.
“The investigation is still ongoing, but we believe it was targeted, so it wasn’t just a random shooting,” Zepeda said. “The person came in looking for this person.”
Zepeda said investigators believe the suspect entered the restaurant through a back door. While surveillance cameras inside the business captured some evidence, he said the shooter appeared to know how to avoid being clearly identified.
“It’s very unfortunate this happened, and that this happened as we’re so close to the end of the year, in the middle of the holidays, in the middle of the day in a business district,” Zepeda said.
Richmond police homicide detectives have taken over the investigation, which remains active. No arrests have been made, and the victim’s name has not yet been released.
The killing marks the sixth homicide of the year in the city of Richmond, Patchin said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact homicide Detective Marecek at 510-621-1835.
YOU GET MORE WITH A PAID SUBSCRIPTION
Your subscription enables Grandview Independent to deliver more:
- More time devoted to in-depth reporting
- Longer, more comprehensive stories
- Greater coverage of what matters to our community
Quality journalism costs money. Subscriptions allow us to keep reporting the stories that matter, without paywalls getting in the way of critical community information.
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE - Starting at just $10/month
FOLLOW US FOR BREAKING NEWS:
• Twitter: @GrandviewIndy
• Instagram: @GrandviewIndependent
• Facebook: @Grandview Independent
Copyright © 2025 Grandview Independent, all rights reserved.
Members Discussion