Ali Winston

An unidentified man meditates in front of police tape cordoning off a murder scene in Frank Ogawa Plaza on Nov. 10, 2011.

Use of force by police undeniably an issue in Oakland, as demonstrated by the injuries sustained by Scott Olsen, Kayvan Sabeghi and several other protesters, apparently at the hands of police over the past few weeks during clashes with Occupy Oakland supporters. Street violence is also a familiar story in Oakland – last night’s murder was a tragically familiar narrative. Reportedly, the shooting stemmed from a physical altercation between two groups of young African-American men earlier that day over a marijuana deal. Yesterday afternoon, one of the people involved returned with a posse, chased the young man through the camp, and beat him before shooting him multiple times in the head.

As expected, Oakland politicians such as East Oakland Councilmember Larry Reid and Mayor Jean Quan took the shooting as conclusive evidence that Occupy Oakland must pack up and go. The Oakland Police Officers’ Association also weighed in with their own open letter to Occupy Oakland this morning. Oakland politics treat murder as an immutable fact that needs to be spun to particular political means.

Along with the usual players, there has also been a very conscious public relations  effort on the part of the Occupation, which immediately tried to distance itself from yesterday’s tragedy. In the aftermath of the shooting, supporters of the Occupation told reporters that the murder “was not an Occupy Oakland shooting,” had nothing to do with the camp, and that the victim was unknown to the camp. Yesterday evening, the Oakland General Assembly issued a statement attempting to put the shooting in a broader context. “The violence that happened today was related [to the movement] only in that it is a part of the system we are trying to move beyond,” the statement read.

It’s not quite that simple — you’re either of this world or you’re not. If a murder happens in your community, you have something to do with it — it’s part of your world, your reality, not someone else’s.

There is truth to the GA’s statement. Generational poverty, chronic unemployment, a failing school system, families broken apart by addiction, violence and deprivation are all defining characteristics of the flatlands of East and West Oakland. Except for the 95 murders in 2010, more than 100 people have been killed in Oakland every year since 2005. Add to this the availability of cheap firearms of assorted caliber in this city and you have the recipe for the public safety crisis known all too well by Oakland and dozens of other American cities.

Yesterday’s killing was a graphic reminder of how violence affects Oakland as a whole. Reports are emerging that the victim – who so far has only been identified by his first name, “Alex” – was visiting a friend who stayed at the tent city in Ogawa Plaza. However, it is critical to point out that yesterday’s murder victim, like the overwhelming majority of people who perish on Oakland’s streets each year, was a young man of color. This is a portion of the 99 percent that disproportionately suffers from the consequences of poverty and violence in Oakland. And now, it seems, this is the portion of the 99 percent that’s being left alone to embrace yesterday’s murder as their own.

Ali Winston

Police cordon off a portion of Frank Ogawa Plaza where a man was fatally shot on Nov. 10, 2011

An unidentified man was shot to death following an argument that devolved into a fistfight in Frank Ogawa Plaza this afternoon, on the one-month anniversary of the Occupy Oakland encampment. According to several witnesses, the victim was shot at least twice in the head in Frank Ogawa Plaza near the Sankofa Boutique and Western Federal Credit Union. The man collapsed several feet in front of an entrance to the 12th Street-City Center BART station, where he was first treated by Occupy Oakland medics and then emergency medical personnel.

The incident started when an altercation between two groups of young men broke out near the medic tent at Occupy Oakland. Emma, a camper who did not want her last name to be used, said she saw a large group of people clustered around two feuding groups, trying to defuse the situation. Shortly thereafter, a fight broke out and spilled over from the encampment to a sidewalk area in front of the Western Federal Credit Union. Al, a homeless veteran who has slept at Ogawa Plaza for the past month, said he saw a group of young men chasing another man run by him, then heard four to six shots.

According to Interim Oakland Police Chief Howard Jordan, the shooting victim died from his wounds at Highland Hospital. No arrests have been made, and no weapons have been recovered, Jordan said.  Several campers did not recognize the shooting victim. There are conflicting reports as to whether the dead man had ties to the camp.

Chief Jordan’s remarks to reporters were interrupted by campers calling for streetlights in Ogawa Plaza to be turned back on. Half of the lights around Ogawa Plaza were out on Tuesday and the entire area around the camp was dark yesterday evening. Jordan said the lights would be turned back on soon.

Michael Sampson, who has been with Occupy Oakland since its first day, said that while the timing of the shooting on Occupy Oakland’s month anniversary was odd, he could feel a change in the camp’s atmosphere recently. “Everything has gotten really tense over the past few days,” Sampson said, citing numerous fights, thefts and robberies that took place in the camp this week (on Wednesday evening, a bag containing the media team’s laptop was stolen out of the media tent, one of five bag thefts that evening).

This will have been the fifth murder in Oakland since October 30th. Oakland Police are still waiting on the cause of death of a woman found dead in the 1600 block of East 22nd Street earlier this morning by a person walking their dog. Police are asking anyone with information about the Ogawa Plaza shooting or any of the other recent homicides in Oakland to contact the Major Crimes Unit at (510) 238-3529.

Oakland politicians took the shooting as yet another opportunity to urge the occupiers to leave Ogawa Plaza. Councilmember Larry Reid was on the scene of the shooting, and said that the camp was creating a dangerous atmosphere in downtown Oakland. “This camp is attracting an element that’s adding to the problem that already exists,” said Reid.

Occupy Oakland participants claimed the shooting was symptomatic of Oakland’s entrenched problem with violent crime.  Mayor Jean Quan issued a statement this evening that cited the murder as conclusive evidence that Occupy Oakland must come to an end.

Her full statement is as follows:

“Tragically, a young man was shot at 14th and Broadway tonight. But whether a murder occurs here or at 98th and International, I call on all Oaklanders to demand peace and reject violence anywhere. Whether this incident is related to the encampment, or is an unrelated act, it is unacceptable.

We heard that fights early in the day were broken up by people on Frank Ogawa Plaza.

Tonight’s incident underscores the reason why the encampment must end. The risks are too great. We need to return OPD resources to addressing violence throughout the city. It’s time for the encampment to end. Camping is a tactic, not a solution.

I call on the community to be united in the need for the camp to close. I am calling on campers to leave voluntarily. We have sent additional outreach workers tonight and made additional shelter beds available.

Our Measure Y outreach workers are reaching out to offer additional services. City Team Ministries, 722 Washington St., has beds for men, and for women, Crossroads Shelter, 7515 International Blvd.   We appreciate the service workers at the Interfaith Tent who are also providing outreach to the homeless.

We need a peaceful resolution to the encampment. The campers need to leave voluntarily. I call on the community to be united around a peaceful resolution.”

Officers found a 28-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the head inside a house. The man was pronounced dead at the scene – according to the San Francisco Medical Examiner, the victim’s identity is being withheld pending notification of kin. Media reports have identified the victim as Richard Ray Fowler.

Police say the suspect fled the house, but was arrested shortly thereafter. He has been identified by SFPD as Anthony Wright, 34, of San Francisco. He is being held in the San Francisco County Jail on homicide and weapons charges.

SFPD is asking anyone with information to call Homicide inspectors at 553-1145 or our the anonymous tip line 415-575-4444.

The murder is San Francisco’s 44th homicide of 2011.

Oakland Police Department

Michael Peau, 22, is charged with the Sept 24 murder of Roberto Guzman in West Oakland

The Alameda County charged a 22-year-old man this afternoon with the fatal shooting of Roberto Guzman on September 24th.

Guzman, 20, was shot to death in front of his house on the 3200 block of Hannah Street in West Oakland shortly before noon that day.

Michael Peau was arrested by the Oakland Police Department’s Major Crimes Section in Mosswood section of North Oakland on the evening of Wednesday, September 28th.

Two firearms were recovered in the course of the investigation. Peau has reportedly denied his involvement in Guzman’s killing.

Peau, 22, was charged with homicide by the Alameda County District Attorney.

Craftside

San Francisco and Oakland are experiencing a violent summer

San Francisco police arrested two men in connection with the September 17th murder of Edgar Yegiyan, a 22-year-old Sunset District resident who was shot to death on 35th Avenue and Rivera.

According to police Yegiyan was smoking a cigarette outside a friend’s house when he was approached by two suspects on foot around 1:17 AM. The men shot Yegiyan multiple times in the torso with an assault rifle, then took off running. Yegiyan died at the scene

Konstantin Solodukhin, 22, was arrested by SFPD Airport Bureau officers around 2:44 PM mere hours before he was scheduled to leave the country on a one-way flight. Sgt. Mike Andraychak said inspectors were not ready to disclose Solodukhin’s destination. Solodukhin’s alleged accomplice, Oren Zakhrabov, also 22 years old, was arrested near his residence in the South of Market neighborhood.

Prosecutors have yet to announce charges against Solodukhin and Zakhrabov.

San Francisco Police Department

San Francisco Police announced today they are charging a juvenile suspect with the murder of Gaspar Poch-Tzek, a 22-year-old line cook at Mission District restaurant Hogs & Rocks. Poch-Tzek was shot on the evening of August 30th while taking a cigarette break on 19th Street and San Carlos. According to Mission Station Captain Greg Corrales, Poch-Tzek’s assailants were Nortenos who demanded whether the cook was a member of the Sureno gang.

Poch-Tzek was shot and killed even thoguh he denied any affiliation. SFPD Lieutenant Troy Dangerfield said police have no indication the cook had gang ties, “He was just a worker,” Dangerfield said.

The 15-year-old suspect, whose identity is being withheld because he is a minor, was already being held at the Juvenile Justice Center for an unrelated charge when SFPD arrested him for Poch-Tzek’s killing. Lieutenant Dangerfield said the arrest was the result of significant community cooperation with Homicide and Gang Task Force inspectors.

Prosecutors are seeking to charge the juvenile suspect with one count of murder, two firearm offenses and a gang enhancement.

The arrest is the second homicide arrest for Mission Station this year. There have been 5 murders to date in the Mission District so far in 2011.

The first death took place at the Alta Bates Medical Center around 4:05 AM, when a replacement nurse administered a fatal dosage of non-prescribed medicine to 66-year-old Oakland resident Judith Ming. According to police, Ming had been receiving treatment at the hospital since July 2011. OPD investigators were summoned to the scene by Alameda County Coroner’s deputies and are investigating Ming’s death.

Later that Afternoon, a man was murdered shortly before noon on the 3200 block of Hannah Street in West Oakland. Police officers responding to reports of a shooting found a 20-year-old Roberto Guzman suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Guzman was pronounced dead at the scene.

At 4:56 on Sunday afternoon, two uniformed OPD officers pulled over a car in the 1800 block of 99th Avenue for a traffic violation. As the officers approached the car the passenger took off running, but was cornered in the 9900 block of Cherry Street. A struggle ensued, and according to police, the officers detected a gun on the suspect’s body. The suspect also allegedly threatened the officers. During the struggle, one officer fired their gun, fatally wounding the man. Although medical treatment was administered, the suspect died on scene.

Police recovered suspected narcotics and a loaded firearm from the scene. The man’s identity is being withheld pending notification of kin. The officer who fired his gun has been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard practice after officer-involved shootings. The incident is being investigated by OPD’s Major Crimes Unit, Internal Affairs Division and the Alameda County District Attorney’s office.

The driver of the vehicle sped off while the officers gave chase, and is still at large. Police have not provided a description of the car.

Anyone with information about any of the three incidents should contact OPD’s Major Crimes Section at 510-238-3821.

Ali Winston

Police markers indicating shell cases at the scene of a Sept. 21, 2011 murder on 52nd Street in North Oakland

A 31-year-old man was shot dead and 24-year-old man is in stable condition today following a chaotic shooting in the 800 block of 52st Street this morning. Witnesses identified Remilio Myers, 30, as the slain man, claiming that he and the wounded man were targeted by four gunmen.

Oakland Police were notified of the shooting around 11:30 AM. According to witnesses, Myers was helping his elderly mother off her East Bay paratransit bus when a car pulled up and four men armed with handguns jumped out and began shooting. Witnesses say Myers sprinted into the parking lot of a yellow apartment building on the south side of 52nd street with two gunmen in hot pursuit, cornering him inside the building and shooting him an unspecified number of times.

At the same time two other shooters chased an unidentified man onto the porch of a blue house on the opposite sidewalk, shooting him an unspecified amount of times.

Both Myers and the second man were taken to a local hospital, where Myers died. The second man is battling life-threatening wounds.

A third man was struck on the hand by a ricochet from a stray bullet.

This afternoon, dozens of yellow markers indicating shell casings littered 52nd Street and the sidewalks near the site of the shooting. The street falls within the area of the North Oakland gang injunction, although police have not indicated whether the shooting was gang-related.

Myers’ murder was the 79th murder in Oakland this year. There were 61 at this point in 2010.

Oakland Police say no one is currently in custody for the shooting. Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to call the Oakland Police Department’s homicide section at (510) 238-3821 or email oaklandhomicide@oaklandnet.com.

Assistant Chief Howard Jordan, Sergeant Mike Gantt and Lieutenant Brian Medeiros discuss recent arrests in the May 20th killing of Antonio Torres.

This morning, Oakland Police announced the arrest of four teenagers – including three juveniles – who are being charged with the May 20 murder of Antonio Torres, a gardener who was working at a client’s home in the 1600 block of 34th Avenue.

David Hall, 19, is the only one of the four being tried as an adult. The other suspects are ages 15, 16 and 17, are being charged with murder as juveniles. The three juveniles have a hearing in juvenile court today for charges of murder. Hall is due in court today to face his own murder charges.

Police say Torres was slain for a gold chain and iPod he was wearing at the time of the attack. “They were out hunting for victims,” said Sgt. Gantt of the Homicide unit, who believes the four suspects are involved with other robberies and burglaries.

Following Torres’ shooting, Oakland Police released surveillance footage of the four suspects and asked the community for help in identifying the suspects. in August, a tipster informed police he had heard the 17-year-old bragging about robbing and killing Torres. The teenager was brought in for questioning on August 28 by OPD, confessed to his involvement in the crime and gave up his three accomplices, who were arrested on September 8th.

Police recovered the gold necklace belonging to Torres. Earlier this summer, OPD issued an advisory to citizens warning about a rash of gold chain thefts that are being driven by spiking gold prices. Assistant Chief Howard Jordan said gold is currently valued at $1,700 an ounce.

Craftside

San Francisco and Oakland are experiencing a violent summer

A 29-year-old man was shot to death shortly before 11:30 PM last night on the 800 block of Hampshire Street. The San Francisco Medical Examiner’s office identified the dead man as Edson Lacayo, a San Francisco resident.

According to the San Francisco Police Department, officers responding to reports of shots fired around 11:29 PM last night found Lacayo lying on the street with three gunshot wounds. Emergency medical personnel pronounced Lacayo dead at the scene.

Police are unsure whether the shooting is related to the murder of 22-year-old Gaspar Putch-Tzek, a cook who was killed on 19th and San Carlos Streets early Tuesday morning after being mistaken for a gang member.

Officer Carlos Manfredi, an SFPD spokesperson, said residents reported seeing two suspects running away from the scene in an unknown direction. No identifying information was provided for either suspects. Officer Manfredi said the death is being investigated by Homicide inspectors, but SFPD has not yet determined whether the shooting is gang related.

Lacayo’s murder is San Francisco’s 34th homicide of 2011, compared to 32 killings as of August 27th last year.