Photo: crime scene
BAY POINT— Two suspects remain in custody, as authorities investigate possible links between a murder and a separate assault. Both crimes occurred within less than a half hour of each other.
On July 18 at 9:09 p.m., Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report about a man in trouble. The caller reported seeing him near Riverside Drive and Mariners Cove Drive.
Deputies found a man unresponsive near a home on the 200 block of Riverside Drive. The victim, Johnny Burns, 38 of Bay Point, was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
At 9:21 p.m., deputies responded to another call. This time it concerned a stabbing. Deputies located the second victim on the 2700 block of Willow Pass Road. This man received medical treatment and he was released from the hospital.
Descriptions of two suspects and an associated vehicle were broadcast to law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout.
Concord police soon located and detained one suspect, Abel Garcia, 20 of Antioch. Garcia was handed over to deputies who took custody of him. On the following day, Erick Ruiz, 24 of Bay Point, was arrested on a warrant.
Both men are being housed at the Martinez Detention Facility, ineligible for release on bail. Presently, each man faces charges involving the stabbing assault—only. No suspects for the murder have been identified, yet.
Garcia and Ruiz are charged with conspiracy, assault with a deadly weapon and battery causing serious bodily injury. In addition, Garcia is charged with participating in a criminal gang. Ruiz also faces an additional charge for parole violation.
Detectives are continuing to investigate possible links between both crimes. Anyone with information about the murder or stabbing incident can call the Sheriff’s Office at 925-313-2600.
