Man charged with murder in Richmond pedestrian’s death
A man suspected of using his vehicle to kill another man in Richmond last month has been charged with murder, authorities said Friday.
Authorities charged 20-year-old Roman Seabock with one count of murder, with the enhancement that he used a vehicle as a weapon in the March 21 death of Raul Lopez Jr., 33, of Richmond. Seabock remained in custody Friday in the Contra Costa County jail in lieu of $2 million bail.
Richmond police took Seabock into custody Tuesday at a family member’s residence in San Anselmo, according to Richmond police spokesman Sgt. Aaron Pomeroy.
Police originally believed the death of Lopez Jr., who was a pedestrian when he was struck, was a hit-and-run. They later obtained surveillance video and other evidence that indicated it was an intentional act, Pomeroy said.
The homicide was one of six investigated by Richmond police so far in 2022.
“We don’t know what the motivation is,” Pomeroy said. “We have our working theories, but we haven’t been able to confirm anything.”
The crash happened about 10:30 p.m. in the 800 block of Hoffman Boulevard. Officers found Lopez Jr., down when they arrived. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The next day, Richmond’s homicide unit took over the case, Pomeroy said. In the days that followed, Pomeroy said they gathered video of the incident, identified the vehicle and put out a bulletin to all state agencies to be on the lookout for the it.
About 24 hours after that bulletin went out, investigators found the vehicle in unincorporated North Richmond, Pomeroy said. Investigators found more evidence of the collision when they examined the car; that evidence showed Seabock was the registered owner and the person in possession of it at the time of the crash, Pomeroy said.
Investigators also found video evidence showing Seabock drove the vehicle, Pomeroy said.