At 12:20am on Saturday, Jan. 3, Fremont police responded to a 911 call to the 5000 block of Mowry Avenue (Intersection of Mowry Avenue and Blacow Road). A 93-year-old man called reporting that he had shot his spouse and was turning himself in.
According to Patch, “Officers arrived to find the man near his vehicle in a parking lot and the 86-year-old victim in the front passenger seat, police said. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police, who said a gun was recovered in the vehicle.”
The name of the perpetrator has been given as Richard Hocking. According to SF Chronicle, “Hocking allegedly confessed to the reason for killing his spouse to authorities and was booked into Santa Rita Jail on suspicion of murder. Jail records show Hocking is being held without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday morning.”
As of Jan. 5, the reason Hocking provided is not yet public.
Per Fremont Police Department said in a press release, “Based on the circumstances, this appears to be an isolated incident and there is no threat to the community. This remains an active investigation.”
This is Fremont’s first homicide in 2026.
