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The Pleasanton Police Department have confirmed the identities of the 26-year-old Home Depot employee who died after being shot on Tuesday while trying to stop a theft in progress as well as the two people arrested in connection with the case.
Pleasanton police Lt. Erik Silacci stated in a press release that Blake Mohs, a Tri-Valley resident and a loss prevention employee at the Home Depot located on Johnson Drive, was the victim who was shot after he intervened to stop an apparent shoplifter.
“We’re heartbroken over this senseless tragedy,” Home Depot spokesperson Beth Marlowe told the Weekly. “Blake was our associate and friend, and our hearts go out to his family and everyone who knew and loved him.”
According to police, Mohs was initially transported to a nearby hospital in the area but had later succumbed to his wounds.
“I am devastated by the loss of Blake Mohs in yesterday’s senseless shooting,” Pleasanton Mayor Karla Brown said in a statement Wednesday morning. “Through his service to Tri-Valley organizations, Blake was a model for others. To have a life cut short is heartbreaking and infuriating. I’m joined by the City Council in offering our deepest condolences to Blake’s family, friends, loved ones, and to everyone impacted by this tragedy.”
“Blake was a well-known member of the community who helped keep customers and staff safe,” Silacci added. “He was involved in community youth programs and planned to be married in the summer. He is survived by his parents, brother and fiancee.”
Pleasanton police identified the suspected shooter as Benicia Knapps, 32, and her accomplice as David Guillory, 31.
Silacci alleged that detectives determined Mohs confronted Knapps while she attempted to steal merchandise from the store, she resisted and fired a gun at the employee before running to a getaway car driven by Guillory. According to police, Knapps’ child was also inside the vehicle as they fled the scene.
After the shooting, Pleasanton police notified surrounding law enforcement agencies of the description of the shooter’s vehicle. At around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, deputies with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office located the car near the 7000 block of Ney Avenue in Oakland and detained the suspects, according to Silacci.
A handgun was also recovered in a nearby intersection after the suspects fled from the scene, according to Silacci.
Police said that Knapps’ child was released to relatives after the two suspects were arrested.
According to the sheriff’s Inmate Locator, Guillory is currently being held at the Santa Rita Jail and his bail is set at $255,000. It states that he is facing four charges including obstruction of justice, child abuse, evading with disregard to safety and evading by going on the wrong side of the road. The locator did not show any information on Knapps as of time of publication.
Previous Arrests
Benicia Nae Knapps
Arrested on: 8/25/2020
Arrested For: By: Date:
Receiving Stolen Property – Motor Vehicle Alameda County SD 8/16/2020
Giving False Information To A Peace Officer
Receiving Or Concealing Stolen Property
Receiving Stolen Property – Motor Vehicle
Take Vehicle W/O Owner’s Consent San Leandro PD 5/16/2020
Receiving Or Concealing Stolen Property
Take Vehicle W/O Owner’s Consent San Leandro PD 12/8/2019
Possess Control Substance Paraphernalia
Contempt Of Court: Disobey Court Order/Process
Criminal Contempt/Disobedience Of Protective Order
Possession Of Burglar’s Tools
Receiving Or Concealing Stolen Property Alameda County SD 8/31/2019
Receiving Or Concealing Stolen Property San Ramon PD 8/20/2019
Take Vehicle W/O Owner’s Consent San Leandro PD 5/9/2019
Receiving Or Concealing Stolen Property Alameda County SD 5/2/2019
Possess Control Substance Paraphernalia
Contempt Of Court: Disobey Court Order/Process Dublin PD 4/30/2019
Receiving Or Concealing Stolen Property Alameda County SD 6/25/2018
Battery On Spouse / Cohabitant / Former Spouse
Vandalism Oakland PD 6/23/2018
Receiving Or Concealing Stolen Property Alameda County SD 9/21/2017
Possess Control Substance Paraphernalia
Contempt Of Court: Disobey Court Order/Process Alameda County SD 9/19/2017
Possession of Narcotic Controlled Substance
Contempt Of Court: Disobey Court Order/Process
Receiving Or Concealing Stolen Property
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia San Leandro PD 6/17/2017
Giving False Information To A Peace Officer
Battery On Spouse / Cohabitant / Former Spouse
Assault w/Deadly Weapon Or Assault w/Force Likely To Produce GBI
Receiving Or Concealing Stolen Property Alameda County SD 6/4/2017
Receiving Or Concealing Stolen Property Alameda County SD 2/15/2017
Burglary
Receiving Or Concealing Stolen Property
Vandalism $5000 Or More Pleasanton PD 4/18/2016
Possession of Narcotic Controlled Substance
Burglary
Receiving Or Concealing Stolen Property
Vandalism $5000 Or More
Drive While
“ I’m joined by the City Council in offering our deepest condolences to Blake’s family, friends, loved ones, and to everyone impacted by this tragedy.” -Karla Brown
Please remember people that you have sitting city of Pleasanton Council members who publicly support Pamela Price as the DA. Please review Prices soft on crime stances she has taken and understand what your council is supporting. Blake will not get the justice he deserves when you have a DA who refuses to charge enhancements, tried to make a deal for a triple murdered to have all murder charges dropped and only get 15 years total, which a judge actually had to stop because it was so crazy, is looking into a no jail time solution for the gangbangers who killed a 2 year old toddler (jasper wu) and is more concerned with actively trying to charge your police officers who deal with suspects like the one who killed Blake be re-opening old officer involved shooting cases that have already been cleared. Wake up people and don’t accept this from your city council, we are better than this. Please ask council member Julie Testa why she supports this in your city.
Several arrests did not post when Dan pasted the information. 23 arrests since 2014. Many of them are three strike felonies. She should have been in prison and not given the opportunity to murder someone while committing additional strike felonies.
As long as voters chose to not hold people accountable (prop 47), elect District Attorneys like Pamela Price who view criminals as victims, give credence to those who “demand” the de-funding of police departments and re-elect a Pleasanton City Council member who is openly contemptuous towards law enforcement this is the world we will live in. We get what we vote for.
Link to full arrest record:
https://www.localcrimenews.com/welcome/detail/42934035/benicia-nae-knapps-arrest.html
Link to petition to recall Pamela Price:
https://www.change.org/p/recall-alameda-county-da-pamala-price
This is truly a tragedy. This woman should have been behind bars and not back out on the street! This is exactly what is wrong with CA and all these liberal DAs and legislators. We need changes otherwise every single one of us is at risk. We can be in the wrong place at the wrong time and someone like this POS decides to commit their crime. Get in touch with our rep Eric Swalwell and let’s put him to work doing what is actually needed for our communities vs. the political games he’s wasting time on in Washington right now.
My prayers go out to the family of this young man whose life was taken too soon. Please no negative comments about how the merchandise was not worth it, you have family members who are in deep mourning and nobody needs to hear online trolls attacking their loved one’s character. It was a terrible act and hopefully, our community can take action and demand better for ourselves.
Prayers to Blake’s family. For residents, your vote has consequences. Price is Soros funded and her soft on crime record as well as the other AG candidates was known. Let’s stop excusing bad behavior.
The People in California who actually VOTE are choosing the people who are Charged with Enforcing the Laws.
To Fix this, More People Need To Vote for People who Will Actually ENFORCE the LAW.
She’s a career criminal according to what was written here (if that’s the case, I haven’t checked). What do you do to deal with a person like that, that has grown into a murderer? I’m sure there are others out there unfortunately just like her. Just like an addict, you can’t fix them unless they want to be fixed. Meanwhile we are in danger of being their next victim. Suggestion: Ankle bracelets that detect where ever they are at all times? Keep them restricted to a small radius close to their own homes? Something new has to be instated, because what is going on now, just isn’t working. Any other serious suggestions? Perhaps our government will have a better understanding if we the people come up with some new options, that just might change the path of the career criminal.