Contra Costa Seeks Seattle Murder Suspect After Release

Isaiah Jamon Andrews, 20, is wanted in the Oct. 15 fatal shooting of 20-year-old Theodore Wheeler IV in Seattle and was arrested Oct. 18 after a vehicle pursuit in Contra Costa County before being booked into the Martinez Detention Facility awaiting extradition. On Oct. 22 deputies mistakenly released Andrews from the jail despite an active Washington murder warrant, local charges and a Sacramento juvenile warrant, and he remains at large. The Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office launched an immediate local search, the U.S. Marshals Service is leading a multistate manhunt with local agencies assisting, and Contra Costa is investigating how the erroneous release occurred. Wheeler’s family says they were not directly notified of the release and have expressed outrage and fear, and some reports say authorities waited several days before publicly disclosing the mistake. Anyone with information on Andrews’ whereabouts is asked to call 911 or contact the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office at 925-646-2441, email tips@so.cccounty.us, or leave an anonymous tip at 866-846-3592.