Alleged Pittsburg gang member convicted of killing teen in drive-by shooting

Shooting was over Bully Boys/Midtown Rivalry

— MARTINEZ A Contra Costa jury convicted a 20-year-old man of murder and conspiracy in the shooting death of a 17-year-old boy in a case that was partly based on messages between gang members in an Instagram group chat.

Anthony McCoy was convicted Thursday of murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Anthony Westbrook Jr. on September 4, 2022. He is facing life in prison.

Westbrook was shot and killed near his Antioch home on Macaulay Street. According to police, the shooting was sparked by tensions between two Pittsburg gangs, the Bully Boys and Midtown, whose members included McCoy and Westbrook, respectively.

McCoy allegedly texted other Bully Boys members on Instagram about shooting Westbrook and other rivals before the shooting.

At trial, Deputy District Attorney Kate Dunbar admitted that more than one person was inside a red Nissan Altima that drove slowly by Westbrook’s house before someone inside opened fire. Dunbar, on the other hand, contended that GPS phone records proved McCoy was inside the Altima and that the vehicle was driven there to kill Westbrook, regardless of whether McCoy was the driver or the shooter.

Jurors deliberated for about a week before reaching a decision. During the deliberations, a regular juror was excused and replaced by an alternate.