Crime & Safety
Berkeley Shooting Victim Was Intended Target in 2009 Murder, News Reports Say
News sources have identified the man fatally shot on Derby Street in Berkeley Wednesday night at Jermaine Davis, 26, who was the intended target four years earlier when his brother was gunned down on a Berkeley street.
The man fatally shot on Derby Street in Berkeley Wednesday night was Jermaine Davis, 26, younger brother of Charles Davis, who was fatally shot in 2009 by reputed gang members who had been seeking Jermaine, according to news reports.
Berkeley police and the Alameda County Coroner's Bureau have not identified the man slain in the 1800 block of Derby Street around 6:52 p.m. Wednesday. The San Jose Mercury News quoted family members identifying Jermaine Davis as the victim, and Berkeleyside.com cited a friend of the family identifying him as the victim.
The killing came just five days after four men were sentenced to life without parole in connection with the slaying of Charles Davis, who was gunned down near 10th Street and Allston Way on May 16, 2009. Two more people were killed that night when the suspects' fleeing Cadillac crashed into a Mazda in Oakland, killing the Mazda driver, 27-year-old Todd Perea of Brentwood, and a pedestrian, 41-year-old Floyd Ross of Berkeley.
The 2009 case gained national notoriety after it was featured on "America's Most Wanted." The four men convicted and sentenced last Friday are the accused shooter Samuel Flowers, 25, Stephon Anthony, 26, of San Leandro, 30-year-old Anthony Price of Oakland and Rafael Campbell, 28.
Regarding the Wednesday killing, Berkeley Police Officer Jennifer Coats said this morning, Thursday, that Berkeley police detectives "have been working through the night on this case."
"BPD Homicide detectives and officers are actively working the crime scene, canvassing the area, interviewing witnesses and following up on leads," said a news release Thursday from Berkeley police.
Police urge anyone who may know anything about the crime to contact the Homicide Detail at (510) 981-5741 or the 24-hour police non-emergency number (510) 981-5900. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Bay Area Crimes Stoppers (BACS) at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).
"Any information may be critical to solving this crime," the Berkeley police statement said.
It is Berkeley's second homicide this year. On Feb. 4, Zontee Jones, 34, was found fatally shot on Delaware Street between 10th Street and San Pablo Avenue at about 11 a.m. Police arrested Jevon Calland, 21, of Oakland, on June 16 in connection with the killing.
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