2 suspects charged with attempted murder after shootout with Benicia police
BENICIA, Calif. - An exchange of gunfire between two suspects and Benicia police on Friday night shut down a highway for several hours.
The incident started after Benicia police received an alert from automated license plate readers around 9:22 p.m. and attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Interstate 780 near the Military West exit, according to the police department.
The suspects were identified as 39-year-old David Ochoa Magana and 33-year-old Javon Dickerson.
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When the car stopped, the suspects inside the vehicle started shooting at officers, who returned fire.
Neither Dickerson and Magana nor the responding officers were wounded in the gunfire exchange.
Both men were arrested. Initially, officers sought a third suspect believed to be in the area. However, after reviewing body camera footage, authorities determined there was no outstanding suspect.
Dickerson and Magana are both being held for attempted murder of police officers.
Residents in Benicia expressed relief that the license plate readers appeared to be effective.
Mark Sackett, a resident, said, "I think they help. There are a few things that have opened up from the license plate readers. They've caught a number of people who were potentially doing burglaries in the area, and other people who have warrants."
The incident yielded help from neighboring law enforcement agencies, including the Rio Vista, American Canyon, Hercules, San Pablo, Pleasant Hill, Concord, and Emeryville Police Departments and Cal Maritime Police Services.
Napa County Sheriff's Office and Cal Maritime Police Services also assisted.