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 guns at Anthony Anderson, aka Anthony Ant, after he approached them with two Sharpie markers wrapped in black tape to form an “L,” investigators said in court. Deputies later said they believed the object was a gun.
Anderson, 40, called police to her San Leandro home in the 16000 block of Shelbourne Drive around 3:20 a.m. on Feb. 9, saying he recently bought a gun in Oakland and plans to commit “murderous violence.” He added that he was suffering from depression, had trouble sleeping, and told the dispatcher, “that’s still to be determined,” when asked what he would do when deputies got there, investigators said.
DeRobles and Herrera responded to the dimly lit street, walking quietly home to avoid detection by Anderson. When Anderson left the residence at the dispatcher’s request, deputies yelled at him to put his hands up. They told investigators that he reached a parked car for a short time before continuing toward them, according to court documents.
Video from a neighbor’s surveillance camera, obtained by KTVU, shows Anderson raising one arm at the deputy as he yells at him, before multiple gunshots rang out.
No gun was found on Anderson, or in his home. After the shooting, the sheriff’s office released a statement saying Anderson “posed an immediate threat” to deputies.
In an interview after the incident, Anderson’s mother asked why the police killed her son and said she believed the sheriff’s office was withholding information.
“He had depression issues, and he was trying to get help,” said Kristina Anderson. “And the help he got was to be killed.”
DeRobles and Herrera both started with the sheriff’s office in 2021, according to payroll records. No one has ever been sued for alleged misconduct, a review of federal and local court filings showed.
Anderson became involved in the arts while attending Berkeley High School. He was known not only for playing in venues but also for organizing jam sessions among friends, saying on social media that he realized that music is “true love” and that he learned this by sharing his gift with the world. In interviews, friends recall his generous, cheerful nature, the way he always had his instrument with him, ready to play, and his focus on advancing the careers of other Bay Area players.
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 across California that date back nearly four years, to May 2022.
Staff writer Martha Ross contributed reporting
