A man was killed Jan. 31 in a shooting that was not previously disclosed to the public

HAYWARD — A 45-year-old East Bay man was killed here months ago in a shooting that police did not disclose at the time.

The circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting of Yosef Barca on Jan. 31 were clouded by conflicting witness accounts as well as a confession from a woman who drove up in a vehicle shortly after police arrived and claimed she killed Barca in self-defense, authorities said. No charges have been filed in connection with the Barca shooting, but it remains under investigation, court records show.

The murder was investigated by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office. A sheriff’s spokeswoman said the office was inundated with numerous media inquiries the day after Barca’s killing – regarding an unrelated lawsuit – and it appeared the announcement of Barca’s killing was simply overlooked.

Barca, a San Leandro resident, was shot at a home on Poplar Avenue in Hayward on Jan. 31 around 8:40 p.m. Investigators from the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office arrived to investigate but had barely begun examining the crime scene when a car pulled up carrying two women, one of whom admitted killing Barca, authorities said.

The woman had a restraining order against Barca over alleged domestic violence, claiming he attacked her during an argument at home, pointed a gun at her and they were fighting over the gun when it was fired. The woman had significant scratches and bruises that appeared fresh, authorities said.

But Barca’s injuries were not necessarily consistent with firing a shot during a fight. According to police, he suffered about 10 gunshot wounds to his torso, arms, legs and groin. He was still breathing when police arrived and said “I don’t know” when asked who shot him. He then became unconscious, authorities said.