CHP working with Richmond PD in wake of recent highway shootings

RICHMOND, Calf. (KGO) -- The CHP is working closely with Richmond Police in the wake of recent highway shootings, two of which have been fatal.

Richmond Police Officer Ben Therriault patrolled Sante Fe on Sunday. Gang members also have a name for it -- the Main Line.

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It's one of the areas he showed ABC7 News during a ride along Sunday.

"People who are a part of gangs have determined this to be their territory," he said.

No matter how many times gang graffiti is painted over, Therriault said it goes back up again.

Residents on Richmond's South Side said they remember when it was worse. "When we first moved in, you didn't see any children out. Due to the violence," resident Al Perez said.

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While there are more children outside playing now, the improvements seem to have stalled. "We went about 10 years where it was real nice here, until about I'd say a year ago," Perez said.

"The beginning couple of months of this year, they kind of took us back for a loss," Therriault said.

Richmond PD said since November, there have been eight highway shootings - seven on I-80 between Pinole and Berkeley, one of which was fatal, and another fatal shooting on I-580 before the Marina Bay Parkway exit.

In February, CHP said a man shot and killed on westbound I-80 was known to law enforcement.

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"This last victim had strong ties to North Richmond gangs, that may be the case, what we can tell with relative certainty is each of these incidents was a targeted incident," CHP spokesperson Ofc. Daniel Hill said.

"We've come a long way as a city, but we have a long way to go," Therriault said.

There have been no arrests in any of the highway shootings.