Home Antioch Antioch Man Found Guilty of Attempted Murder of Two Antioch Police Officers

Antioch Man Found Guilty of Attempted Murder of Two Antioch Police Officers

by ECT

Martinez, Calif. – On February 6, a Contra Costa County jury found defendant Mario Serrano of Antioch guilty of 13 counts, including the attempted murder of two Antioch Police Department officers, Thomas Smith and Scott Duggar.

Serrano used a stolen shotgun to fire at police officers after a high speed chase on May 4, 2016. Officer Thomas Smith was shot in the head with birdshot as a result of Serrano’s actions.

The jury found multiple enhancements true against Serrano, including that he was armed with a firearm and the intentional discharge of a firearm. The jury also determined that Serrano’s attempted murder of the Antioch officers was premeditated.

Serrano now faces a possible life term in state prison. Sentencing will occur on April 12, 2019 in front of the Honorable Nancy Davis – Department 20 of the Contra Costa County Superior Court in Martinez. Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorney Kevin Bell prosecuted the case on behalf of the People. The case originated in the Office’s Community Violence Reduction Unit.

“I am thankful that defendant Serrano has been held accountable for his actions. He endangered the lives of many innocent civilians simply because he believed that his girlfriend was cheating on him. I also commend Officer Smith and Officer Duggar, whose bravery put an end to the defendant’s incredibly violent and senseless crime spree,” stated Deputy District Attorney Kevin Bell.

Serrano’s illegal activity started on May 2, 2016. He parked his car in the drive thru of a McDonald’s in Antioch to annoy his girlfriend who worked at that location. He later returned to the McDonald’s to smash the glass front doors with a lug wrench. After he left McDonald’s he went to the Mt. Diablo Landscape Center on the Pittsburg Antioch Highway where he doused his girlfriend’s car in gasoline and set the car on fire.

Between May 2 and May 4, Serrano broke into a house in Clayton off Marsh Creek Road. The residents were not home at the time. He ransacked the house and stole their shotgun and truck.

On May 4, 2016, in the early morning, Serrano drove the stolen truck and fired four shots at the same McDonald’s. One of the shot’s was fired into the Children’s Playland – no children were inside at the time of the shooting.

He fled the scene and drove to a residence in Pittsburg. He used the same shotgun to fire a shot through the window. Later that day Serrano carjacked a group of high school students and took a  vehicle on Cummings Skyway and Franklin Canyon Road near Crockett.

Upon driving back to Antioch in the stolen car, police located the vehicle and began a pursuit. The pursuit continued into Pittsburg as Serrano fled from the officers. During rush hour traffic, Serrano crashed into a car at the intersection of Loveridge Road and East Leland Road in Pittsburg. After the crash, Serrano exited the vehicle with the shotgun and took a position of cover while he waited for officers to arrive. He began to shoot at the officers upon their arrival to the intersection. Serrano shot Officer Smith in the head with birdshot.

The guilty counts against Serrano found by the jury:

  • Count 1, Attempted Murder of a Peace Officer
    • Enhancement 1, Personal and Intentional Discharge of a Firearm
  • Count 2, Assault with a Firearm Upon a Peace Officer
    • Enhancement 1, Personal and Intentional Discharge of a Firearm
  • Count 3, Attempted Murder of a Peace Officer
    • Enhancement 1, Personal and Intentional Discharge of a Firearm
  • Count 4, Assault with a Firearm Upon a Peace Officer
    • Enhancement 1, Personal and Intentional Discharge of a Firearm
  • Count 5, Vandalism Over $400 in Damage
  • Count 6, Arson of Property of Another
  • Count 7, First Degree Residential Burglary
  • Count 8, Petty Theft Firearm (misdemeanor)
  • Count 9, Driving or Taking a Vehicle Without Consent
  • Count 10, Shooting at an Inhabited Dwelling
  • Count 11, Shooting at an Inhabited Dwelling
  • Count 12, Carjacking
    • Enhancement 1, Personal Use of a Firearm
  • Count 13, Fleeing a Pursuing Peace Officer’s Motor Vehicle While Driving Recklessly
    • Enhancement 1, Armed with Firearm

Case information: People v. Mario Guadalupe Serrano, Docket Number 05-171324-7

All information provided by Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office

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9 comments

No excuses Feb 8, 2019 - 11:53 am

This is what dumb ass punk dudes do when they think their GF is cheating on them. And then you get convicted of the crimes you committed and go to prison because you have no balls. Make a whole lot of nonsense.

Martin NMN Feb 8, 2019 - 12:51 pm

Why incarcerate him here and have to pay for his care? He should be taken to Devil’s Island, left there and have to fend for himself. Depending on the age of this loser, why should the taxpayer finance him until he croaks? Ridiculous!

ONIWY Feb 8, 2019 - 8:06 pm

It’s almost easier to list all the things he didn’t do. He’s like some bizarre video game character where the speed got stuck and he just ran amok. Hope Antioch begins a real effort to get some drones, as Orinda is doing. We need these far more than Orinda does.

Nick Feb 8, 2019 - 8:17 pm

Orinda set up a GoFundMe and asked the residents of Orinda to pay for them. I don’t think the residents of Antioch are willing to do that.

ONIWY Feb 9, 2019 - 9:18 am

Antioch citizens voluntarily ponied up for a police dog. Why not pay for drones?

Red Rose Feb 8, 2019 - 9:21 pm

I have friends in Orinda and they are very excited about the coming drones! They don’t want their city to become another Antioch!

Melanie Feb 9, 2019 - 8:00 am

Orinda is in no danger of becoming another Antioch.

Gloria Feb 9, 2019 - 5:41 pm

Well, Orinda is making sure of that and I give that city a lot of credit. At one time, Antioch was not like it is today! A lot of this is due to how the city leaders dealt with all kinds of situations which they could have stopped. Now, there is no way of going back!

BL Feb 15, 2019 - 9:03 pm

Like making Antioch the section 8 capital of the country?

Comments are closed.