On a summer evening in Pittsburg, California, the life of 44-year-old Ernest “Lilman” Hayes was tragically cut short. On July 3, 2026, Hayes was fatally shot in an incident that stemmed from a domestic dispute at a residence in the nearby community of Bay Point. The events of that night would lead to a manhunt for the suspect and a community mourning the loss of a beloved father and friend.
The situation began to unfold when Avery Gibbs, a 35-year-old transient, found himself in a
heated argument with a woman he was staying with at her apartment on Olivia Lane. The dispute reportedly escalated after Gibbs accused one of the woman's children of stealing from him and threatened the child. This led to a confrontation with another resident of the apartment. During the altercation, Ernest Hayes, who had previously been in a relationship with the woman, arrived at the apartment, possibly after being contacted for help regarding the threat to the children. It was then that Gibbs allegedly armed himself with a gun and opened fire. Hayes was struck and killed, and a neighbor who had joined the commotion was also shot and subsequently hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Following the shooting, Gibbs fled the scene, prompting a search by law enforcement.
After a week on the run, Avery Gibbs was located and apprehended in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was taken into custody and awaited extradition back to Contra Costa County to face charges for the death of Ernest Hayes. Prosecutors formally charged Gibbs with murder for the death of Hayes and attempted murder for the shooting of the neighbor. The investigation into the incident continued as the legal process against Gibbs began, with authorities working to piece together the chaotic moments that led to the fatal shooting. The case then moved to the Contra Costa County Superior Court for prosecution, with the community and the family of Ernest Hayes awaiting the outcome of the legal proceedings to bring a measure of closure to a senseless act of violence that took the life of a man remembered for his warm spirit and dedication to his family.
