Photo: File photos of suspects David Guillory and Benicia Knapps | Pleasanton PD
PLEASANTON — A woman suspected of shoplifting allegedly killed a store security employee who confronted her in front of witnesses. She and an alleged accomplice who drove a getaway car are in custody at Alameda County Santa Rita Jail.
A fatal shooting occurred on the afternoon of April 18 at Pleasanton Square Shopping Center. Home Depot security observed a woman leaving the store, without paying for a toolbox. During a struggle for the toolbox, video shows the suspect shooting the victim. The victim 26-year-old Blake Mohs died at a hospital.
Alameda County Sheriff’s Office deputies pursued the suspects on Interstate 580. They exited the freeway in Oakland, where they were apprehended at an apartment complex on Ney Avenue.
The suspects are Oakland residents with prior criminal convictions, Benicia Knapps, 32, and David Guillory, 31. When Knapps was taken into custody, her infant with her was turned over to a family member. On April 20 charges were filed against the suspects.
Knapps faces multiple charges including murder, possession- and use of a firearm by a felon, in addition to child abuse. Guillory’s charges include planning and sophistication of a crime, accessory after the fact, and child abuse.
Knapps has prior convictions for receiving a stolen motor vehicle and second-degree commercial burglary. She has been arrested 24 times for assault, battery, burglary, drugs, robbery, and thefts, among other offenses since 2014.
Guillory has prior convictions for burglary and unlawful sexual intercourse, and recent arrests for these same offenses in another active case.
