In 1863 an elderly man was hired to be the caretaker for a piece of land and a house in Oakland. Two years later, in 1865, the owner of the property was lost at sea in a shipwreck. His heirs sold the property but never told the old man of the transfer of title. When the new owners gave him notice to vacate the property, he refused and threatened to shoot anyone who attempted to remove him. A complaint was made and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

On October 23, 1867, Officer Richard B. Richardson was given the task of arresting the man. True to his word, during the execution of the warrant, he shot and killed Officer Richardson.

Officer Richard B. Richardson, the first Oakland Police Officer to be killed in the line of duty, was 35 years old. He left a wife and three children.

The murderer, 70 years old at the time of the shooting, died in jail awaiting trial.