A 93-year-old California man allegedly turned himself in to police and told them he fatally shot his 86-year-old spouse, Luxury Handbag Shopping confirms.
Fremont Police Department officers were dispatched to a parking lot in the 5000 block of Mowry Avenue in Fremont, California, around 12:22 a.m. on Saturday, January 3, after a caller reported that he shot his spouse and wanted to surrender to authorities, according to a press release shared by the department.
Officers then reported to the scene, where they detained the caller — who has since been identified as Richard Hocking — while he was standing next to his vehicle. Authorities looked inside the car, where they found the victim seated in the front passenger seat with a visible injury.
The individual — whose name has not been publicly announced — was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the release. Meanwhile, authorities recovered a firearm from inside of the vehicle.
Hocking was then arrested and taken to the Fremont Police Department. Once at police headquarters, Hocking provided a statement in which he explained to detectives why he shot his spouse. However, that information has not yet been made public.
Hocking was booked on suspicion of homicide with a gun-related enhancement, according to the release. The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office will review the case and evidence amid the investigation.
It is not currently known if Hocking has obtained legal representation following his arrest, while a mug shot has not been shared of the suspect.
Fremont Police Department did not immediately respond to Luxury Handbag Shopping’s request for comment.
The shooting has been described as an isolated incident and police said they do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the community.
It is not currently known how long the couple was together or what may have happened leading up to the victim’s death.
The investigation is currently active. Police have asked that anyone with information contact the Fremont Police Investigations Unit at (510) 790-6900. Additionally, the organization is also accepting anonymous tips that can be submitted online.
Police noted that the death of Hocking’s spouse marked Fremont’s first homicide in 2026.
In California, a gun enhancement is a sentencing law that provides additional penalties that will impact someone’s sentence if a gun was used to commit a crime, according to Power Trial Lawyers. These enhancements are governed by several sections of the California Penal Code, while they can significantly increase the length of a prison sentence if someone is convicted.
Gun enhancements are commonly applied in cases that involve serious felonies, such as violent crimes like robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and murder. Only the presence of a gun is needed in order to trigger the enhancement, as the weapon does not actually need to be fired as the crime is being committed.
If the gun is used in the commission of certain felonies, those found guilty could have 10 years added to their sentence. Those who fire a gun can have 20 years added, while those who cause great bodily injury or death with a gun can have an additional 25 years added to their sentence.
