VIDEO: What happened to missing Richmond teen Antoine Whittley?
on March 22, 2021
The family of a 17-year old Kennedy High School student last seen on the Richmond San-Rafael Bridge nearly six weeks ago, say Richmond police should investigate the disappearance as a robbery and possible kidnapping.
Antoine Whittley was last seen on Feb. 10 after exiting a rideshare car on the bridge. The Richmond Police Department is offering a $10,000 reward for information about Antoine’s whereabouts. But so far, they have come up empty.
Anthony Whittley, Antoine’s father, said police are operating under the theory that Antoine jumped off the bridge, based on what Antoine is reported to have told a friend. But Whittley thinks they should consider the possibility that his son met with foul play. He said police have not looked for clues in Antoine’s room and turned down Whittley’s request that they examine cellphone records.
On Tuesday, Whittley said there was no new information about the case.
Police did not respond to Richmond Confidential’s request to address Whittley’s claims.
During a Feb, 19 news conference, police Sgt. Aaron Pomeroy said there was no evidence that Antoine was the victim of a crime. He said Antoine and a friend took some type of drug, possibly a hallucinogenic, the night Antoine went missing.
Pomeroy said the friend called a rideshare around 8:20 p.m. to take Antoine home to Point Richmond after Antoine said he was “feeling weird.” Pomeroy said the rideshare driver told police Antoine was acting strangely, which led the driver to loose focus and miss the Point Richmond exit.
According to what the driver said, when Antoine realized he was on the bridge, he assaulted the driver and accused him of trying to kidnap him. He then demanded to get out of the car, which was westbound at the mid-span. The friend said Antoine called him from the bridge around 8:30 p.m., claiming someone was trying to kidnap him and that he might have to jump off.
Antoine’s family reported him missing the following morning. They called Antoine “a good kid” and said it wasn’t like him to not come home. His mother, Tanetta Morgain, said Antoine enjoys sports and spends a lot of time playing computer games. She said he gave her a hug before he left for his friend’s house on Feb. 10.
Pomeroy said surveillance on the bridge haven’t helped because they don’t cover the entire span.
At the news conference, Richmond Police Chief Bisa French said police talked to numerous people and were using “every available resource” to determine what happened.
“We are committed to doing everything we can to find Antoine,” she said.
On its Facebook page, the police department encourages anyone with information to contact Detective K. Palma at (510)-621-1276 or kpalma@richmondpd.net.
Editor Christine Schiavo contributed to this report.
12 Comments
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I will continue to pray for Antoine to come home. My son is 18, I feel your sin for your baby boy. God has an “All” seeing eye. He knows ..🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
RPD has never been known for doing the right thing. Corrupt dirty cops! So it’s not surprising that they came to this conclusion and refuse to look anywhere else. Keep up the BAD WORK RPD….
I will continue to pray for Antoine to come home. My son is 18, I feel your sin for your baby boy. God has an “All” seeing eye. He knows ..🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Its been weeks now and nothing is being said concerning the driver who was noted as ignoring his request and that’s how it was reported of him last being seen on the bridge. Why and how could it be possible for ” he jumped ” perhaps under some form of distressing situation elsewhere. When his phone records show that he was expected too arrive at home or a friends house minutes away?. Its just not adding up. However, the law enforcement was just to quick in laying the claim ” of the driver not being a suspect in the young man’s disappearance”?.
He was never suppose too be on that bridge and how he got there ,makes that driver a prime suspect in this young man’s disappearance. However, by local law enforcement officers reporting that the driver was not ” a suspect ” is very troubling. if it turns out ,that someone has witnessed what happened that day on that bridge where he never should have been and had no intention of being on that day,it would be another unpleasant experience for the law enforcement community. At a time when everyone attention especially law enforcement in guidance in safety and protection too allow the only other person who has any knowledgeable information concerning this young mans disappearance too simply go free without questions would be a disgrace. What it does is its sending the wrong message. If someone from anywhere in the world can come to America under a US citizenship they can get away with practically anything. Including kidnapping abduction even murder and never pay the cost.
Yes also praying for your son’s safe return home to your family in Jesus name amen and amen❣️🙏🏽🦋🕊
there are cameras on the richmond bridge, no? I see them everytime I cross over it shouldn’t they be taking a better look at that ??????
Are there any update on Antoine’s whereabouts?
It is very sad that this young black boy isnt all over the news like these white kids. I have only heard of this story a few times. I pray this young guy is safe or in Gods arms right now.
My son is 25 he saw this on the news and was just so torn apart by this story for some reason he said it just really bothered him he doesn’t know the young man but ever since that day it’s really torn me apart too because it could have been him you know and I don’t even hear anything more being broadcasted about his disappearance and this happened back in February the last article that was written about his disappearance was in March if this was a white person they would be on this every week on Channel 5 News channel 7 and every other channel
and it’s not right it’s like nobody cares and oh he just jumped and so okay if that was the case why aren’t they having people go dive in below the ocean and see if they find the boy’s body to put closure to this you know there’s some other measures that should be taken I’m not even sure what all of them are but it doesn’t seem like anything’s being done and that’s not right may the Lord bless the family bless the young man and may God bring him back
Man help bring my lil bro back to his family 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
crazy how the cost guard never checked the water and out of all pictures they chose that one. they should be treating this case as if it was a murder case and the uber driver had something to do with it.