4 Arrested In Fatal Shooting Of Oakland Gardener
OAKLAND (KCBS) – Oakland police have arrested four people in connection with a brazen shooting in May that left a gardener in Oakland's Fruitvale District dead.
42-year-old Antonio Torres was shot and killed while working in the front yard of a client's home in the 1600 block of 34th Avenue on the afternoon of May 20.
Last week, police detained a 17-year-old after they received information that he had bragged about the shooting. Oakland Police Sergeant Mike Gantt said the teen confessed to the crime and also provided information about the three other suspects.
KCBS' Bob Melrose Reports:
"I believe Mr. Torres was targeted because while he was doing the gardening work, the suspects said that they saw he had on a gold chain as well as an iPod," said Gantt. "He had his iPod headphones in while he was doing the gardening work at that location."
Gantt said the Alameda County District Attorney's Office has charged all four suspects, ranging in age from 15 to 19, with murder. The 19-year-old has been charged as an adult and the three other suspects have been charged as juveniles.
Oakland Assistant Police Chief Howard Jordan said that people wearing gold necklaces and chains have been targeted by criminals in the city over the past six months.
Jordan said police are asking residents to "be vigilant" and pay attention to their surroundings if they wear gold items.
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