SAN LEANDRO, Calif. — A 40-year-old local musician who was fatally shot by deputies in Alameda County earlier this week has been identified as Anthony Anderson. Community members say the loss has deeply impacted the East Bay music scene, where Anderson was widely respected and known for bringing artists together.
Anderson’s name was publicly shared Wednesday by the Anti Police-Terror Project. Friends and fellow musicians describe him as a passionate artist and community builder who dedicated much of his life to music.
Remembered as a Band Leader and Community Builder
Anderson, often known by the nickname “Anthony Ant,” was an accomplished trumpet player who regularly performed throughout the East Bay. He played shows at venues including the Starry Plough Pub in Berkeley and was known for organizing performances and supporting fellow musicians.
Kev Choice, a longtime friend and musician who had known Anderson for more than a decade, described him as someone who radiated positivity and leadership.
“He just had a lot of love and passion, a lot of fun too,” Choice said. “He was a fun person to be around, always smiling.”
Choice explained that Anderson wasn’t just a performer — he was a band leader who created opportunities for others. He booked venues, assembled bands, and ensured artists were paid. According to Choice, Anderson played a key role in sustaining creative spaces in the community.
“It’s a tremendous loss because he was the person putting together the bands, booking the venues, paying the people,” Choice said. “He was providing opportunity and creating spaces.”
Now, members of the local music community say they are grieving and trying to find ways to honor his legacy.
Details of the Shooting
The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office stated that deputies responded to a call around 3:20 a.m. Monday regarding a person reportedly claiming to have a firearm. When deputies arrived at a home on Selborne Drive in San Leandro, authorities said a person exited the residence and presented what they described as an immediate threat.
Two deputies discharged their firearms. Anderson later died from his injuries. Officials have stated that he was unarmed at the time of the shooting.
Under California law, the California Department of Justice is conducting an independent investigation into the incident, as required in cases involving law enforcement shootings of unarmed civilians.
Questions Surrounding Mental Health Response
The Anti Police-Terror Project released a statement suggesting the situation may have involved a mental health crisis. According to the organization, Anderson’s mother, Kristina Anderson, said her son had been struggling with depression and was reaching out for help.
The group criticized the response, arguing that mental health crises require trained, community-based responders rather than armed officers.
Choice echoed concerns about how such situations are handled.
“We all know that police officers need more training when dealing with people who are having mental health crisis,” he said. “Sometimes there are other people who could come out to support in those types of situations so that a death in this tragic nature should not be the outcome.”
A Community United Through Music
As investigations continue, friends and supporters are focused on remembering Anderson for his contributions to the Bay Area’s creative community.
Choice said the best way to honor him is through unity and music.
“We’re going to keep the glory going in the Bay Area,” he said. “Much love to our community who’s grieving right now. We’ve got to come together with music as he would always want us to do.”
For many in the East Bay, Anderson’s legacy lives on in the artists he uplifted and the spaces he helped build.
