SAN LEANDRO — Authorities have identified the two deputies who shot and killed a popular musician outside his home earlier this month.
Alameda County Sheriff’s Deputies Pedro DeRobles and Georgio Herrera both fired their service pistols at Anthony Anderson, professionally known as Anthony Ant, after he walked toward them carrying two large Sharpie markers wrapped up in black tape to make an “L” shape, investigators said in court filings. The deputies later said they believed the object was a firearm.
Anderson, 40, called police to his San Leandro home in the 16000 block of Shelbourne Drive at around 3:20 a.m. on Feb. 9, claiming he’d recently purchased a gun in Oakland and planned to go on a “killing rampage.” He added that he was struggling with depression, had trouble sleeping, and told the dispatcher, “that has yet to be determined,” when asked what he would do when deputies got there, investigators said.
DeRobles and Herrera responded to the dimly lit street, deliberately walking quietly to the home to avoid Anderson’s detection. When Anderson left the residence at the request of a dispatcher, the deputies yelled for him to put his hands up. They told investigators he briefly accessed a parked car before continuing toward them, according to court filings.
Video from a neighbor’s surveillance camera, obtained by KTVU, shows Anderson raising one arm toward the deputies as they yell at him, moments before numerous shots are heard.
No gun was found on Anderson, or in his home. After the shooting, the sheriff’s office released a statement saying Anderson had “presented an immediate threat” to the deputies.
In an interview after the shooting, Anderson’s mother questioned why police killed her son and said she believed the sheriff’s office was withholding information.
“He just was having problems with depression, and he was reaching out for help,” Kristina Anderson said. “And the help he got was to get killed.”
DeRobles and Herrera both started with the sheriff’s office in 2021, according to payroll records. Neither have ever been sued by someone alleging misconduct, a review of federal and local court filings showed.
Anderson became involved in performing arts while attending Berkeley High School. He was known not just for playing at venues but organizing jam sessions among friends, stating on social media that he came to realize music is “literally love” and that he learned this from sharing his gift around the world. In interviews, friends recalled his generous, upbeat nature, the way he always had his instrument with him, ready to play, as well as his focus on promoting the careers of other Bay Area performers.
The California Attorney General is investigating Anderson’s death under a state law that applies to police killings of unarmed people. But the investigation will likely take years; the AG’s list of active cases contains dozens of shootings throughout California dating back nearly four years, to May 2022.
Staff writer Martha Ross contributed reporting
Leave a Reply