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Alleged Gang Members Arrested After Richmond Shooting

RICHMOND (CBS SF) - Two alleged gang members were arrested Wednesday afternoon after two plainclothes Richmond detectives witnessed one of them firing a gun, a police spokeswoman said Thursday.

The detectives were patrolling the streets looking for known gang members as part of the city's Ceasefire program when the shooting occurred at about 3:50 p.m., Detective Nicole Abetkov said.

As the detectives approached the intersection of Kelsey Street and Alamo Avenue, near North Richmond, they spotted Antwon Johnson, 19, and Marjuan Crenshaw, 21, standing with a group of people, Abetkov said.

Still in their car, the detectives saw Johnson extend his arm and fire a semi-automatic weapon in their direction, Abetkov said. She said it is not clear whether he was aiming at the detectives' vehicle or something else.

Johnson and Crenshaw then fled on foot and the two detectives chased them, Abetkov said. A short time later, Johnson was tracked down in a backyard in the 400 block of Duboce Avenue and taken into custody.

Surveillance cameras installed by the city of Richmond captured Johnson stashing his gun in the backyard, Abetkov said. The cameras were placed in key areas of the city to identify suspects, gather leads and discourage individuals from committing crimes, she said.

Police recovered the weapon, a 9mm handgun with an extended magazine that had been reported stolen, she said.

Crenshaw, who fled in an opposite direction from Johnson, attempted to blend in with a crowd, but officers located and arrested him shortly after arresting Johnson, Abetkov said.

No one was injured in the shooting, but Abetkov said things could have been worse.

"The mindset could have turned this into a lethal force situation," Abetkov said. "The detectives handled themselves really well."

The Ceasefire program is anti-violence outreach program where police and community leaders partner in identifying and engaging those who are responsible for the majority of street crimes - using a carrot-and-stick approach.

"These two guys are the reason why Ceasefire is necessary," Abetkov said of Johnson and Crenshaw.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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