Stockton Mayor's Gun Used In Murder Of 13-Year-Old Boy, 2 Other Crimes
STOCKTON (CBS13) - A gun registered to Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva is now being linked to two crimes, including a homicide. The mayor says his gun was stolen more than a year ago, part of two break-ins from the mayor's property.
The San Joaquin D.A.'s office says the gun registered to Silva is the murder weapon in the South Stockton killing of 13-year-old Rashawn Harris. The boy was gunned down in a driveway walking to school in February of 2015.
According to the San Joaquin D.A., Rashawn was killed by a .40 caliber Beretta pistol. And in newly released documents from the D.A.'s office, on March 22, 2015, about a month after the teen's death, Mayor Silva called the San Joaquin Sheriff's department and reported his home was burglarized. At the time, the Stockton Record reported Mayor Silva hadn't lived in that home since before he was elected in 2012. He rents out the home. The D.A.'s report also shows the mayor reported a number of items stolen, including a .40 caliber Beretta semi-automatic pistol.
The document from the D.A. also says Mayor Silva had last been at that residence on March 19.
Then fast forward to more than a year later, in June of 2016, while responding to a domestic disturbance in North Stockton, police recovered a gun. After ballistic examination of the firearm and a check on serial numbers, they found a match. The recovered gun matched the stolen gun registered to the mayor, and the weapon was soon linked to at least two crimes.
Police investigators linked the gun to the February 2015 homicide and a January 2015 incident where a home was shot at, but no one was hurt; however, the D.A. says, "Eight .40 caliber and six 9 mm shell casings were recovered."
Mayor Silva learned his gun was used in a murder Friday night and released this statement:
"A few moments ago I was notified by the media that one of my stolen guns were used in a murder. Words can not describe my sorrow and heartbreak for the victim and his family. I feel terrible and I feel sick to my stomach. Obviously this was my worst possible fear. I will be in shock for a long time. It's a horrible tragedy that will that will be on my mind and in my prayers forever. I will reach out to the family and do whatever I can. I have not been provided any details yet, so I only can react to what the news is claiming. Everyone please pray for Stockton,"said Silva.
The Mayor is working with the D.A.'s office as they investigate. But this isn't the only time the Mayor has had his guns stolen. Just this year, in February, the mayor says he had another gun stolen while he was on vacation. Police have not yet recovered that gun.
