Full Notification

The San Leandro Police Department has been actively investigating two homicides that occurred separately during the early morning hours of September 14^th and September 24^th.  The homicides both took place in the parking lot of 24-Hour Fitness Bayfair, and both victims were found to be suffering from gunshot wounds while seated inside their respective vehicles.  Spent 9mm shell casings were located inside both victim vehicles. 

During the investigation, detectives pored over surveillance footage collected from nearby businesses. They were able to isolate a person of interest and possible suspect, seen coming to and from the scenes of both homicides.  This suspect wore similar clothing in both instances and black work boots with a distinctive metallic shoelace keeper.  The suspect was also seen taking the same route when leaving the scene, traveling north on Hesperian Boulevard and then turning west onto Halcyon Drive.  During the first homicide, the suspect wore a distinctive red Nike backpack.

Images of the suspect were distributed to other law enforcement agencies and our patrol staff.

While the investigation progressed, the department took proactive safety measures, including increased visible patrols and undercover surveillance in the area.

On October 17^th, just after 2 p.m., an astute patrol officer was responding to an unrelated call for service when he noticed a subject, later identified as Joshua Ballard (23 years old, San Leandro resident), wearing the aforementioned red Nike backpack and black work boots walking in the area of Hesperian and Halcyon.  Additional detectives and patrol officers responded to stop and detain him as a possible suspect in the homicides.  During a search of his person, an un-serialized 9mm semiautomatic handgun was located on Ballard.

Ballard was taken into custody, and a subsequent search warrant executed at his residence yielded more evidence connecting him with the homicides. 

Information gathered during the investigation indicated the victims were not specifically targeted, and the crimes were not related directly to 24-Hour Fitness Bayfair.   

The case was presented to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office for review earlier this morning.  Ballard was charged with two counts of murder (187(a) PC), attempted carjacking (215(a) PC), robbery (211 PC), assault upon the person of another with a firearm (245(a)(2) PC), and other weapons violations. 

“We understand that this case garnered a lot of community attention and generated an understandably high level of concern for public safety, particularly at 24-Hour Fitness Bayfair.  Our detectives worked tirelessly to canvass for and sift through numerous leads, evidence, and surveillance footage to connect the homicides and ultimately identify the suspect”, said Lieutenant Abe Teng.  “As with most investigations of this scale, this case was a collaborative effort between our department and numerous outside agencies willing to lend us their resources and provide intelligence.  The San Leandro Police Department would especially like to thank the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for aiding our investigative efforts.”   

While criminal charges have been filed, SLPD continues to urge anyone with additional information regarding these incidents to contact us via any of the following methods: Detective C. Pricco at (510)577-3244, anonymous tip line at (510)577-3278, or text-to-tip at 888777 (keyword: TipSLPolice).