Oakland Police Join Mothers Of 3 Teens Shot, Killed Last January To Ask Witnesses Come Forward
OAKLAND (KCBS)— Oakland police investigators joined the mothers of three teenagers shot and killed last January to make an appeal for anyone with information to come forward in a community where serious crimes can tend to go unreported.
The victims included two brothers, one of them— Lee Weathersby III, was only 13-years-old. He was shot while walking home from a Boys & Girls Club party on International Boulevard. Within weeks, his mother, Dinyal New lost a second son, her eldest, 19-year-old Lamar Broussard.
"Three days after I buried Lee, my oldest son and a childhood friend was also murdered right here on this spot. Lamar died with a broken heart and bullets in his body," she said.
That friend was Derrick Harris. His mother, Tameka Rothchild came to the corner of 100th and Longfellow avenues where their sons were killed. Rothchild said they're begging for help solving the cases.
"We're living in a city that…you commit a crime, people see it, but they act like they don't see it. I know people have a heart. Come on now. You don't want this to happen to your baby or your child," she said.
Lead investigator, Officer Leo Sanchez said there are no suspects but police know there are witnesses.
"We're reaching out to the community to the citizens of Oakland and the whole Bay Area not to forget this," he said.
Oakland police spokeswoman Johnna Watson stressed that tipsters in this case can remain anonymous and that even if it is a small piece of information that you have to offer, that information could lead to a break in the case.
"We have three young men who have lost their lives in the community and we need help in moving these cases forward," she said.
The mothers have raised and pledged funds for additional reward money, which is now officially up to $30,000.
