Obituaries
Castro Valley Man ID'd As Shooting Victim
He died after a police chase that started in San Leandro and ended in Oakland with the man allegedly pointing an assault rifle at police.
CASTRO VALLEY, CA — The name of the man a San Leandro police officer shot and killed following a police chase in August was released this week.
Vasquinho Bettencourt, 35, of Castro Valley, was the man K-9 Officer Anthony Pantoja killed Aug. 5 in the 10400 block of Pippin Street in Oakland where a foot chase ended.
Bettencourt crashed an Acura into a big rig in the 10400 block of Pearmain Street in Oakland and got out of the car. He allegedly pointed an assault rifle at Pantoja, and Pantoja shot at him. Bettencourt ran off.
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A foot pursuit ensued until Pantoja caught up with Bettencourt on Pippin Street, where the officer shot multiple times at Bettencourt again, hitting him in the torso, police said.
According to police, the officer didn't know Bettencourt had earlier dropped the rifle.
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Paramedics treated Bettencourt for his injuries, but he died.
Police said they recovered the assault rifle under the big rig.
The Acura that Bettencourt was driving during the pursuit was apparently stolen. The chase began after Bettencourt allegedly did not stop for police near East 14th Street and Durant Avenue in San Leandro.
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