ANTIOCH – A 23-year-old Antioch man is facing attempted murder and animal cruelty charges in connection with a weeks-long crime spree, according to authorities.
Francisco Hernandez first shot and killed a friend’s dog during a dispute on July 15 in the 2300 block of Cypress Street, Antioch police Lt. Desmond Bittner said in a news release.
The following day, Hernandez shot a person during an interrupted vehicle burglary at Lucena Way and Lopez Drive, according to Bittner.
Bittner said the crime spree continued on July 31 when Hernandez shot a person during an interrupted vehicle theft in the 3800 block of Rockford Drive.
Finally, on Aug. 1, Hernandez shot at a person after a dispute in the 2200 block of San Jose Drive, according to Bittner.
An officer encountered Hernandez doing donuts in a stolen Infiniti at Buchanan Road and Contra Loma Boulevard on Aug. 7, Bittner said. Hernandez sped away but crashed into an unoccupied vehicle parked about a quarter mile away on Cortez Court.
The officer detained Hernandez at the scene of the collision and discovered he was wanted on two warrants – one for attempted murder and the other for animal cruelty.
On Monday, detectives presented the cases to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, which charged Hernandez with two counts of attempted murder, one count of assault with a firearm, one count of animal cruelty and one count of vehicle theft.
Anyone with information related to the cases can contact Detective Cole Shaffer at 925-779-6944 or cshaffer@antiochca.gov.