Oakland: Six charged in two thousand fifteen special circumstance murder – The Mercury News
Oakland: Six charged in two thousand fifteen special circumstance murder
OAKLAND – Six fellows have been charged with special circumstance murder in the September two thousand fifteen kidnapping, robbery and fatal shooting of a twenty four year-old man whose assets was left in the Oakland hills.
Charged with murder and the special circumstance accusations that the killing occurred during a kidnapping and robbery are Armani Miller, Nineteen, presently awaiting trial for a December two thousand fifteen Orinda home robbery where a baby sitter was pistol whipped, and Carlos Vera, 20.
The suspected gunman, James E. Scott, 23, a fugitive wished on a no-bail arrest warrant, is charged with murder and the special circumstance of kidnapping, as are Louis Velasco, 20, and Alejandro Garcia, twenty two and an 18-year-old who is being prosecuted for now as a juvenile because he was seventeen when the killing happened.
Sgt. Richard Vass said all of those in custody have admitted their involvement.
They are accused in the killing of Reynaldo Vazquez, 24, found slain about 6:20 a.m. Sept. 30, two thousand fifteen on Joaquin Miller Road, south of Skyline Boulevard adjacent to Joaquin Miller Park.
Vass said most of the suspects knew Vazquez and that he was targeted because of a dispute of some kind among them that police are still attempting to confirm.
According to police and court documents, Vazquez was robbed and abducted early Sept. Thirty from the area of 39th Avenue and East 12th Street in the Fruitvale district to a nearby building.
Police suspect Scott and some of the others hammer and pistol-whipped Vazquez at the building. Vazquez was then tied up and put in the trunk of one suspect’s car. Some of the suspects then drove in that car and another vehicle to Joaquin Miller Road where Scott is suspected of shooting Vazquez.
Vass said shortly after the killing police began receiving tips from the community about who was involved. Police were also able to recover movie surveillance that showcased Vazquez being abducted from 39th and East 12th, taken to the nearby building and then being put in the car and driven away.
Police eventually confirmed the identities of the suspects. Miller has been in custody in Contra Costa County since Dec. Ten. He is charged with five felonies including robbery and carjacking for a Dec. Eight violent break-in at an Orinda home where a 53-year-old babysitter was pistol-whipped and the residents’ Porsche stolen. He was arrested in the Porsche in Oakland on Dec. Ten.
Garcia was arrested June Two, Vera on June Trio, Velasco on June seven and the teenager on June 7. All are being held without bail.
