Slain Man Was Father Of City Worker Beating Suspect
Posted: 7:01 am PST February 8, 2010Updated: 6:07 pm PST February 8, 2010
VALLEJO, Calif. -- A Vallejo man who was shot to death early Monday morning was the father of a 17-year-old boy who was arrested Friday on suspicion of beating and robbing a city worker on Feb. 1.
Matthew Allen Hicks, 42, was shot in the head outside a home at 435 Fairgrounds Drive at about 12:50 a.m., police Lt. Abel Tenorio said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses told police the shooter was a black male adult wearing a dark hoodie, witnesses said.
Police are also looking for a man known only as Kevin, who was at the scene but left just after the shooting. He is not the shooter but is considered a person of interest, Tenorio said.
"He could have been an acquaintance and we want to speak to him," Tenorio said.
No motive has been established for the murder and police are "open to all possibilities", Tenorio said.
The victim's sister Pearlie Hicks said the family is coping the best way that they knew how.
“How we gonna deal with it? Like every other family, we're going to pray," said Hicks.
Investigators said currently there is no clear connection between the two crimes. Police added that they had investigated Hicks in relation to a domestic disturbance just 90 minutes before he was killed.
“Officers got the information, took a report, and were going to forward the information to the district attorney's office and attempt to contact Mr. Hicks in relation to that domestic violence [call],” said Tenorio. “Shortly after that, we received the call about the incident where Mr. Hicks was killed in front of the residence.”
Hicks' 17-year-old son and a 15-year-old boy were arrested Friday on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery and robbery for the Feb. 1 attack on the city employee in the 600 block of Broadway.
The employee, 47-year-old Harold Cabral of Suisun City, confronted a teen who threw an object at the backhoe he was driving and was then assaulted and robbed of his wallet.Cabral suffered serious injuries, including a fractured skull, a fractured jaw, and a fractured collarbone.
Tenorio said there may be more arrests in connection with that incident.
With the latest incident, Vallejo police conceded they were stretched thin.
In 2006, 136 officers patrolled the streets of Vallejo. Following budget cuts and the city's bankruptcy, that number has dwindled to 103.
Police said the same group of investigators was looking into Monday's homicide and another at a Vallejo liquor store over the weekend.
Added to those cases were ongoing investigations into the city worker beating, the search for a suspect in the attempted murder of an ice cream vendor and several other lower profile violent crimes.
“A couple of the detectives are working on more than one case of this magnitude,” said Lt. Tenorio. “They are stretching their abilities.”
Vallejo Mayor Osby Davis Monday acknowledged that fewer officers are doing more work.
“Yes, our police department is overworked and they do have a lot on their table,” said Mayor Davis. “But I would say to you police departments all over the state and all over the country have a lot on their plate right now.”
The mayor said he planned on releasing a more comprehensive statement about crime in the city Tuesday.
Anybody with information about the crimes being investigated was asked to call Vallejo police at (800) 488-9383. Anonymous tips can be left at (707) 644-STOP.
http://www.ktvu.com/news/22496929/detail.html
Posted: 7:01 am PST February 8, 2010Updated: 6:07 pm PST February 8, 2010
VALLEJO, Calif. -- A Vallejo man who was shot to death early Monday morning was the father of a 17-year-old boy who was arrested Friday on suspicion of beating and robbing a city worker on Feb. 1.
Matthew Allen Hicks, 42, was shot in the head outside a home at 435 Fairgrounds Drive at about 12:50 a.m., police Lt. Abel Tenorio said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses told police the shooter was a black male adult wearing a dark hoodie, witnesses said.
Police are also looking for a man known only as Kevin, who was at the scene but left just after the shooting. He is not the shooter but is considered a person of interest, Tenorio said.
"He could have been an acquaintance and we want to speak to him," Tenorio said.
No motive has been established for the murder and police are "open to all possibilities", Tenorio said.
The victim's sister Pearlie Hicks said the family is coping the best way that they knew how.
“How we gonna deal with it? Like every other family, we're going to pray," said Hicks.
Investigators said currently there is no clear connection between the two crimes. Police added that they had investigated Hicks in relation to a domestic disturbance just 90 minutes before he was killed.
“Officers got the information, took a report, and were going to forward the information to the district attorney's office and attempt to contact Mr. Hicks in relation to that domestic violence [call],” said Tenorio. “Shortly after that, we received the call about the incident where Mr. Hicks was killed in front of the residence.”
Hicks' 17-year-old son and a 15-year-old boy were arrested Friday on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery and robbery for the Feb. 1 attack on the city employee in the 600 block of Broadway.
The employee, 47-year-old Harold Cabral of Suisun City, confronted a teen who threw an object at the backhoe he was driving and was then assaulted and robbed of his wallet.Cabral suffered serious injuries, including a fractured skull, a fractured jaw, and a fractured collarbone.
Tenorio said there may be more arrests in connection with that incident.
With the latest incident, Vallejo police conceded they were stretched thin.
In 2006, 136 officers patrolled the streets of Vallejo. Following budget cuts and the city's bankruptcy, that number has dwindled to 103.
Police said the same group of investigators was looking into Monday's homicide and another at a Vallejo liquor store over the weekend.
Added to those cases were ongoing investigations into the city worker beating, the search for a suspect in the attempted murder of an ice cream vendor and several other lower profile violent crimes.
“A couple of the detectives are working on more than one case of this magnitude,” said Lt. Tenorio. “They are stretching their abilities.”
Vallejo Mayor Osby Davis Monday acknowledged that fewer officers are doing more work.
“Yes, our police department is overworked and they do have a lot on their table,” said Mayor Davis. “But I would say to you police departments all over the state and all over the country have a lot on their plate right now.”
The mayor said he planned on releasing a more comprehensive statement about crime in the city Tuesday.
Anybody with information about the crimes being investigated was asked to call Vallejo police at (800) 488-9383. Anonymous tips can be left at (707) 644-STOP.
http://www.ktvu.com/news/22496929/detail.html
