Brentwood police shoot man suspected of holding woman hostage at apartment

Police took a loaded handgun and expended shell casings from the scene.

BRENTWOOD — At least one police officer shot a 30-year-old Long Beach man suspected of holding a woman hostage at an apartment complex Sunday night, police said.

The man and the woman both were injured and hospitalized as a result of the shooting but expected to survive, according to a statement from Brentwood police Capt. Walter O’Grodnick. The drama took place after police responded to the Brentwood Garden Apartments in the 160 block of Sycamore Avenue.

The suspect was recovering Monday morning at a hospital. O’Grodnick said police will ask the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office that he be charged with attempted murder on a peace officer and other felonies.

According to O’Grodnick, police were on another call in the area of Brentwood Boulevard, when an individual approached them and reported a man was holding a woman against her will at the apartment and was armed with a handgun.

Several officers responded and heard gunshots, O’Grodnick said. They found the man and woman in a breezeway between several apartments. O’Grodnick said as they approached, the suspect fired more than one shot in their direction.

O’Grodnick said officers feared for their lives, and that last least one officer fired back at least one time, hitting the suspect at least once. O’Grodnick did not say whether police also hit the victim with gunfire but emphasized the victim also was injured as a result.

None of the shots hit bystanders, O’Grodnick said. Some of the shots by the suspect hit unoccupied vehicles in the parking lot of the apartment.

Police took a loaded gun and expended shell casings from the scene, O’Grodnick said.

The District Attorney’s Office, per county protocol, also is investigating the shooting. Police asked anyone with information to contact Det. Jeff Agostinho at 925-808-7870.