An explosive device was tossed at the Antioch home of a man captured on video spewing racial slurs, authorities reported Monday. The incident occurred just one day after police had publicly warned against vigilantism.
The device, initially thought to be a large firework, was thrown at the Lake Alhambra-area property before Antioch Police officers were called to the scene around 10:11 a.m. Monday. The device exploded, causing minor damage but no reported injuries. The Walnut Creek Police Department Bomb Squad responded to assist officers, who began gathering evidence.
The blast occurred as videos of a resident yelling racist comments circulated widely on social media, drawing significant public attention. In response, Antioch police issued a warning Sunday acknowledging the videos and urging community members to allow investigators to conduct their work without confronting or harassing anyone involved.
"We understand that these videos may be upsetting to our community," police stated. "We ask everyone to please allow our investigators to do their job and not take matters into your own hands or harass, threaten, or confront anyone involved."
The controversy surrounding the residence dates back to July, when the man depicted in the viral videos was arrested, according to Lt. Bill Whitaker. Police indicated that one incident linked to the home had gone through the courts and resulted in a restraining order being issued. Another incident involving a different victim led to the same suspect's arrest on allegations of civil rights violation and battery. The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office subsequently filed misdemeanor charges for a civil rights violation and simple battery, and the criminal case is still pending.
While police have not confirmed if Monday's explosion was an act of retaliation, they are investigating a potential connection to the recent surge in social media attention surrounding the July incidents. Officers are interviewing witnesses and reviewing neighborhood surveillance footage as they pursue leads. No suspect has been identified in connection with the explosion.