A car crash in a quiet East Bay neighborhood has turned into a homicide investigation after officers discovered the deceased driver was not killed by the collision, but by a gunshot wound to the chest.
The killing has alarmed residents of Pittsburg in Contra Costa County who said it was another instance of violent crime that has made them afraid for their children.
“Early Wednesday morning, shortly after 3:15 a.m., Pittsburg officers responded to the area of El Dorado Dr. and Shasta Circle in regards to a report of a vehicle collision,” a police statement read. “As officers arrived to the area, they found the car had collided with a telephone pole, then continued on to collide with several parked cars. The driver, and sole occupant of the vehicle, had been pulled from the vehicle by a bystander who began performing CPR on the man. Officers took over CPR and other life-saving efforts until medical staff could arrive."
That’s when officers noticed something incredibly off about the victim.
“It was during this time, officers noticed the man also suffered from a single gunshot wound to the upper torso,” the statement continued. “American Medical Response and Contra Costa Fire personnel arrived on scene and continued life-saving efforts. Unfortunately, the man was later pronounced deceased at the scene.”
Police identified the victim as Jabbar Mahmood, 19, of Antioch.
"It was learned, Mahmood drove to a house in the 100 block of El Dorado Drive and briefly went inside the house," police revealed late Wednesday. "Several minutes later, Mahmood walked out of the residence and got into his car. While seated in his car, an unknown suspect walked up to the car and shot Mahmood one time, hitting him in the upper torso. Mahmood immediately drove east on El Dorado Drive away from the location where his car collided with a pole and several parked cars. The unknown suspect fled the scene in a dark-colored sedan-style car. The relationship of Mahmood and the suspect is unknown."
Video taken from a neighbor’s home security camera system shows the crash. You can hear the vehicle smash into the pole, and then subsequently slam into the other parked cars. At least two other vehicles were struck.
“The Pittsburg Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance and asks anyone with additional information to please contact the Pittsburg Police Department Tip-Line at 925-252-4040,” investigators asked.
Commenters on social media reacted with alarm, saying they’re fed up with rising violent crime in Eastern Contra Costa County.
“This area is getting worse and worse,” one commenter reacted on the department’s Facebook social media account. “We hear gunshots almost every day - no, not fireworks - I know the difference. Full takeover sideshows in front of the schools - murder in the creek a few years ago- transients looming in every bush outside our kid's schools- cars doing 80 past Hillview [Elementary school]. Damn it, It’s just going downhill fast. Police do what they can. They bust their butts non-stop, but it’s just getting worse by the month.”
The homicide is the city’s second of the year, police stated.
“Honestly, there is an element of no fear from punishment out there intentionally created havoc in neighborhoods,” the commenter continued. “Parents raising their damn kids would be a nice start. Neighbors getting involved and say and do something when something doesn’t look right. This is a neighborhood FULL OF KIDS- connected to 2 SCHOOLS and their PARK and swim center. It’s a zombie apocalypse at night around here.”