2 Charged in Daytime Berkeley Murder

By Bay City News Service

Two men were charged Wednesday with murder for the fatal shooting of 34-year-old Zontee Jones in broad daylight in Berkeley in February.

Jevon Calland, 21, had a motive to harm Jones and had threatened him in front of witnesses the day before Jones was shot to death, Berkeley police officer Jesse Grant said in a statement filed in court.

Jones was found shot in the 1000 block of Delaware Street between 10th Street and San Pablo Avenue shortly after 11 a.m. on Feb. 4, police said.

Grant didn't say what Calland's motive was but he said Calland "made a plan with several other people to do harm" to Jones, who he said was unarmed.

However, Grant alleged that co-defendant Maurice Thomas, also 21, was the person who actually shot and killed Jones.

The Alameda County District Attorney's Office charged both Calland and Thomas with murder but it also charged Thomas with discharging a firearm and causing death, which could add 25 years to his sentence if he's convicted.

Calland and Thomas both face 25 years to life if they're convicted of first-degree murder.

Berkeley police spokeswoman Jennifer Coats announced on Tuesday night that Calland was arrested on Sunday following a four-month investigation into Jones' death.

However, apparently Thomas hasn't yet been arrested, as there is no record of an arrest in Grant's probable cause statement or court records. Coats couldn't immediately been reached for comment.

Referring to the alleged plan to harm Jones, Grant said, "Calland summoned one of the other persons to the scene of the murder with a firearm."

He said, "Calland engaged the victim in a physical confrontation and the other persons assisted him."

Calland is seen on a video participating in the murder and was identified by witnesses both at the shooting location and running away from the scene, according to Grant.

Thomas was identified on video and by witness statements, Grant said. Forensic evidence "supports the conclusion that Thomas shot the victim (Jones)," he said.

Calland was scheduled to be arraigned on the murder charge in Alameda County Superior Court today.

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