Bay Point murder suspect arrested in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS — After a week on the run, the suspect in a Bay Point shooting death has been arrested here on murder charges, authorities said.

Avery Gibbs, 35, is now being extradited back to Contra Costa, where prosecutors charged him with murder and attempted murder. The July 3 shooting was an intense and chaotic incident, stemming from a dispute between Avery and some of the people he was staying with in Bay Point, according to authorities.

Gibbs, who is technically listed as a San Pablo resident, was actually homeless and staying with a woman who lived on Olivia Lane in Bay Point. The trouble started when he accused one of the woman’s children of stealing from him and threatened a beating as punishment, authorities said.

One of the residents then confronted Gibbs while he was showering, sometime after midnight on July 3, by storming into the bathroom and yelling at him. He retreated to grab pants and the confrontation continued, authorities said.

At some point during this, Ernest “Lilman” Hayes, 44, reportedly arrived at the apartment. Police say Hayes had dated the woman who lived there and may have been contacted because of the alleged threat against the children. Gibbs then alleged retrieved a gun and shot Hayes, killing him.

Gibbs also allegedly shot a neighbor who joined in the commotion. The man was wounded, transported to a hospital, and survived, authorities said.

Gibbs reportedly fled the area, eventually crossing state lines and ending up in Nevada.

Prosecutors charged Gibbs with murder and attempted murder Friday, around the time he was being arrested in Las Vegas, authorities said.

An obituary for Hayes describes him as a man with “contagious” laughter who made “lifelong friends” pursuing an education in Contra Costa.

“He was a hard worker and took great pride in operating his own car detailing business, where his attention to detail and dedication to his craft were evident in every vehicle he transformed,” the obituary says. “Beyond his professional life, Ernest was a man of many passions. He found joy in the simple pleasures of life, such as fishing, enjoying music, and relishing good food.”