Richmond police officer involved in shooting on I-80 near Highway 4; CHP investigating

Last update: 4:22 p.m. Thursday, January 22, 2026

A Richmond Police detective reportedly shot and killed a man welding a tire jack on Interstate 80 near Hercules Thursday morning, shutting down part of the freeway, and causing a massive traffic snarl that persisted for much of the day.

According to media reports, the detective, who wasn't named, was on his way to work in an unmarked police vehicle when he spotted a car stopped in the fast lane and pulled in behind it to offer assistance. A man brandishing a scissor jack came toward the detective, who responded by discharging his service weapon at the man, who reportedly died.

Richmond police public information officer Lt. Donald Patchin confirmed to Grandview that an RPD officer was involved in a shooting on Thursday morning.

“An RPD officer was involved in a shooting this morning on I-80 near Hwy 4. Due to the location of the shooting, CHP is handling the investigation,” Patchin said. No additional details about the circumstances of the shooting were immediately released.

A statement from Ted Asregadoo, Public Information Officer for the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, said they are participating in the investigation with the California Highway Patrol, which has primary jurisdiction over the investigation; however, the California Attorney General's Office will lead the legal investigation based on the specific circumstances of the incident.

"The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office’s participation in the investigation is in accordance with the County’s Law Enforcement-Involved Fatal Incident protocol," Asregadoo said. "While Assembly Bill 1506 requires the California Department of Justice to investigate officer-involved shootings of unarmed civilians, this particular case does not explicitly fall under that mandate. However, the Attorney General's Office has assumed the lead role due to the dynamics of the incident."

Westbound I-80 between Hercules and Pinole Valley Rd. remains closed as investigators continue to work at the scene.

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