Contra Costa County prosecutors won’t be filing charges in the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old Richmond man, saying the person who shot him Nov. 8 did so in self-defense, Richmond police announced Friday.
Griffin Hammond was shot near the intersection of Carlson Boulevard and Potrero Avenue following a confrontation that began around 8:09 p.m. at a Shop and Stop Market, according to the Richmond Police Department. It was believed to be the city’s third homicide of 2025.
On Friday, police revealed new details, saying Hammond pulled out a gun after a person brandished a gun at him inside the store. Hammond then exited and fired multiple shots, hitting a second person who was entering the store.
That person returned fire, fatally wounding Hammond, police said. They left the scene and sought treatment for their wounds at a local hospital.Â
Homicide detectives presented the case to the District Attorney’s Office on Dec. 8, and prosecutors determined no one involved would face criminal charges.
Police said they are not releasing the identities of the involved individuals because they are not being charged with any crimes.
Richmond has seen an uptick in gun violence in the last months of the year.
Not long after Hammond was killed, 23-year-old Josue Cornejo was shot and killed just before 6 a.m. on Nov. 17 near Marina Way and Bissell street while walking half a mile away from his home.
On late Tuesday night, another man was shot and killed near Third Street and Macdonald Avenue in the Iron Triangle, bringing the total number of homicides this year in Richmond to four.
Don’t forget the two fatal shootings by the police . Also remember that in 1986 there were over 60 murders in Richmond. In other words the city has gotten much much safer.
The criminals have moved to yoc town