Suspected West Oakland gang member slain in East Oakland
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Article Last Updated: 08/20/2008 04:32:05 PM PDT
OAKLAND — A reputed member of West Oakland's Acorn drug gang died early Wednesday from gunshot wounds sustained Tuesday night in East Oakland, police said..
He was identified as Jonathan Gonzalez, 21, whose street name was "Redbone," police said.
A 34-year-old man who said he was Gonzalez's cousin was also wounded.
His name was not released and police were not sure if he lived in Oakland or Emeryville.
The shooting happened about 9:53 p.m. Tuesday at a housing project in the 1200 block of 65th Avenue.
The older man was able to tell police he and Gonzalez were walking back from a store when they were confronted by a man with a gun who began shooting at them. Both men were hit several times by gunfire.
Gonzalez died from his wounds at 2:29 a.m. Wednesday at Highland Hospital. The other man was in critical condition at a local hospital.
The survivor was able to tell police he did not know why the man shot them but did not say what they were doing in East Oakland.
Police said numerous people witnessed the shooting and at least 30 people were present when officers first arrived on the scene. But so far no one has been willing to talk to police.
Gonzalez's killing was Oakland's 87th homicide of the year.
Last year at this time there were 85 homicides.
Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $15,000 in reward money in the shooting.
Anyone with information can
call police at (510) 238-3821 or Crime Stoppers at (510) 777-8572 or (510) 777-3211.
