Update: Employee dies in Pleasanton Home Depot store shooting; Suspects in custody
PLEASANTON -- A shooting inside a Home Deport store in Pleasanton Tuesday afternoon has left one person dead and two suspects in custody.
The shooting happened at about 2:15 p.m. at the store located at 6000 Johnson Drive near Owens Drive.
Authorities said the call was initially dispatched as a drive-by shooting targeting an employee who was on the back side of the store. But during the course of the investigation, police learned it happened as an employee was trying to stop a suspect from shoplifting.
Update: Police identify victim, suspects in Home Depot shooting; toddler was in getaway car
There was a struggle and one of the suspects shot the employee, who later died. The identity of the employee was being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Through a spokeswoman, Home Depot issued a statement Wednesday morning.
"We're heartbroken over this senseless tragedy. Blake was our associate and friend, and our hearts go out to his family and everyone who knew and loved him."
According to witnesses, the suspects fled in a red Nissan Pathfinder.
A short time later, an Alameda County Sheriff's Department airplane spotted the Pathfinder and followed it to Oakland. That's where deputies were able to make the arrests in an apartment near the 7000 block of Ney Ave.
The suspects have been identified as David Guillory and Benicia Knapps. The gun police believe was used in the attack was recovered at the scene.
Pleasanton Police asked anyone with information about the shooting to call the department at (925) 931-5100. Silacci said more information was to be released Wednesday morning, police said.
