FBI releases new lead into murder of college baseball pitcher killed in California park while playing Pokémon GO in 2016

FBI Unveils New Lead in 2016 Murder Case of College Baseball Pitcher Killed in California Park While Playing Pokémon GO

On Tuesday, fresh details emerged about the tragic shooting of an up-and-coming college baseball player who was killed while playing Pokémon Go in San Francisco, a case that had gone unsolved for nearly ten years.

The FBI unveiled a new sketch of a second individual of interest in the 2016 murder of 20-year-old Calvin Riley, who was shot while at San Francisco’s Aquatic Park.

Authorities described the suspect as a bald man with a beard, a broad face, and glasses, and have offered a reward of up to $25,000 for any information that could lead to identifying him.

Riley — a standout pitcher for the San Joaquin Delta College Mustangs at the time — was playing the hit mobile game with a friend at the park around 9:50 p.m. on Aug 6, 2016, when a bullet fatally struck him.

At the time, authorities stated that two people were observed in the area, and Riley and his friend had noticed someone watching them from the top of a hill that overlooks the park, but couldn’t get a good look at them.

The suspect was accused of recording video at the crime scene, according to authorities.

The FBI later said that the first male suspect is believed to be the driver of the vehicle who parked in the area of the unprovoked murder and was with a blonde female, estimated to be 20 to 30 years old.

Investigators also found that two suspicious vehicles were in the area — a white 2015 Hyundai Sonata and a dark-colored Audi A3 Wagon.  

The bureau also noted that there was no confrontation or exchange between Riley or his friend and the persons of interest before he was murdered.

The motivation for the killing was unclear. Investigators revealed Riley wasn’t robbed and still had his belongings with him after being gunned down.

The case ran cold for nearly 10 years, until Tuesday.

Following the development in the case, the young baseball prospect’s father, Sean Riley, praised the FBI for continuing to search for his son’s killer after all these years.

“I think they’ve, they’ve done an outstanding job,” Sean told KTVU on Tuesday. “It’s been a lot. I mean, it has been nine years.” 

Since his son’s murder, he said he always believed his son was targeted and hopes the new sketch will help bring anyone involved in Riley’s death to justice.

The murder didn’t just end the life of a promising baseball prospect from Boston, who had aspired to reach the MLB and play for the Red Sox after college, but it also derailed the lives of his family, Sean said.

The grieving dad said his son’s murder “ended in a divorce” for him and his wife and has affected his family and friends across the US.

“Very sad, I mean, it’s a lot of sleepless nights, a lot, you know, just trying to, trying to cope, right? I mean, I had Calvin when I was…I had just turned 21. So we grew up together,” an unnamed friend of Riley’s told the outlet.

On and off the baseball diamond, Sean praised his son’s character and leadership, saying he would always “put everybody in front of himself.” 

Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI’s San Francisco Field Office at 415-553-7400 or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

with Post wires

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