Chaos erupted in a quiet San Ramon neighborhood when police responded to a potentially deadly domestic dispute, resulting in an hours-long standoff. According to San Ramon Police Department, at 12:23 p.m. on April 26, officers received a call about a man with a gun threatening to kill his wife in the 2100 block of Canyon Lakes Dr. The quick response of law enforcement allowed the safe evacuation of the victim from the home while they worked to establish communication with the armed suspect, identified as 60-year-old Brian Richard Smith.
The situation escalated, prompting a shutdown of the street and the evacuation of nearby residents. Per the police department's announcement, attempts to reach Smith by phone failed, and the local Central County SWAT team—including San Ramon PD, BART PD, Walnut Creek PD, Pleasant Hill PD, and Martinez PD—stepped in to take control of the incident. As time ticked away, tension mounted, until, after about thirty minutes, the suspect emerged from his residence and surrendered to police without further incident.
****Informational Release****
— Chief Denton Carlson (@DentonLCarlson) April 27, 2024
More details are included in the below press release associated with yesterday’s incident involving @SanRamonPolice and an armed and barricaded suspect. pic.twitter.com/E059vBxuSI
In a post-arrest search of Smith's home, detectives stumbled upon an alarming arsenal. They confiscated a total of 11 firearms, encompassing multiple rifles, shotguns, and handguns. Following the seizure, Smith found himself booked at the Martinez Detention Facility on charges of making terrorist threats and exhibiting firearms in a threatening manner, as revealed in the police statement.
The incident, coming to a close around 7:00 p.m., saw no injuries among police personnel or community members. The multi-agency collaboration not only included the swift action of police departments but also the support of the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District and the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office. In their official statement, authorities expressed gratitude to all assisting agencies and lauded the community for their patience during the high-stress ordeal, clearing the air of danger and paving the way for life on Canyon Lakes Dr. to return to normalcy.
