Suspect in ARCO shooting arrested in traffic stop

An Alameda native who is suspected of shooting two gas station employees was charged with four felony counts, including two for attempted murder, on Monday, April 25, according to authorities.  

Edward Bessonov, 29, is also being charged with two counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm. He is being held without bail at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. His plea hearing is scheduled for May 3.

The charges stem from an incident on Saturday, April 16, that left two people injured with gunshot wounds. Alameda police officer Jarrod Suth said the suspect got into an argument with an employee at the Arco gas station at 1260 Park St. The argument escalated and Bessonov pulled out a 9 mm pistol and shot the employee and another employee before fleeing the scene in a white Mercedes. 

The surveillance footage from the shooting incident was key to the arrest. The Alameda Police Department (APD) received a call reporting a man standing in the middle of the road on Shoreline Drive at Park Street yelling at people last Thursday, April 21. Officers were sent to the scene but upon their arrival the male left the area.

At 8:12, APD received another phone call near upper Washington Park about a disturbance involving the same male. Officers arrived on scene and attempted to detain the subject, however, he fled in his vehicle. A short vehicle pursuit ensued, and the subject stopped his vehicle on the 1000 block of Central Avenue. After a brief standoff APD arrested Bessonov.

The vehicle used by the suspect was a white Mercedes similar to the one seen in the gas station surveillance video. Police also said Bessnov matches the description of the gunman and officers said they recovered additional evidence that links him to the shooting.

Police initially arrested 20-year-old Valente Blanco-Garcia for the incident on the night of the shooting. Police officers got a tip that a suspicious person was in the post office parking lot at 1777 Park Ave. Blanco-Garcia lives on the same block as the post office, according to police. 

There is no evidence that Blanco-Garcia had any involvement in the shooting or any connection to Bessonov. Blanco-Garcia was released from police custody early last week.