07/19/2006
Gunman still sought; family of innocent victim pleased with progress
Harry Harris and Robin Higgins
STAFF WRITER and CORRESPONDENT
Oakland Tribune (California, USA)
OAKLAND — A member of a violent West Oakland gang was charged Tuesday for his part in Friday's fatal shooting of a 58-year-old grandmother, slain by a stray bullet meant for someone else, authorities said.
Authorities said the suspect, Donte L. Johnson, 25, is not the gunman who killed Lath La in the 1100 block of Eighth Street while shooting at a carload of other people. That suspect is still being sought.
But police and prosecutors said Johnson knows the other suspect, did nothing to stop the attack and was actually "urging" him to shoot at the car.
That participation led to Johnson being charged Tuesday with murder and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. For sentencing enhancement purposes, Johnson also is accused of having two prior narcotics convictions, including one that sent him to prison in 2005.
Assistant District Attorney Tom Rogers said Tuesday the possession of a firearm charge is somewhat unusual in such a case. He said that even though Johnson did not have physical possession of the gun, "by directing (the gunman) to fire he was in effect controlling the gun," which allows him to be charged under the statute.
La's daughter, Lisa Ohm, said Tuesday of the arrest, "I feel a little bit better. (The police) do care about us, they do their job. I appreciate them. They care about my mother. They are willing to keep looking for (the other suspect)."
She said a funeral service in which a Buddhist monk will perform a blessing will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Lone Tree Cemetery, 24591 Fairview Ave., Hayward. The family is in the process of setting up a trust fund.
La, who had come to the United States many years ago to escape Communist oppression in her native Cambodia, was a tragic victim, in the wrong place at the wrong time, police said.
A friend had driven La to an Eighth Street apartment so she could visit some relatives.
Homicide Sgt. Phil Green said Tuesday that just as La exited the friend's van, the gunman was chasing and shooting at a car that was driving eastbound on Eighth with Johnson "running alongside him urging him to shoot."
Green, who is investigating the case with Sgt. Rick Andreotti, said police have heard, but not confirmed, that people in the car were targeted in retaliation for an earlier shooting in the same area.
It is still unknown if anyone in the car, or the car itself, was hit by gunfire.
But La was hit by stray bullets, as was her friend's van.
Based on witness statements, Johnson was arrested later Friday night at his Eighth Street apartment not far from where the shooting happened. He denied any involvement in the shooting.
"He knows who did it but he is still refusing to cooperate," Green said.
Police and CrimeStoppers of Oakland are still offering up to $20,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of the gunman. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 238-3821 or Crime Stoppers at 238-6946.
Gunman still sought; family of innocent victim pleased with progress
Harry Harris and Robin Higgins
STAFF WRITER and CORRESPONDENT
Oakland Tribune (California, USA)
OAKLAND — A member of a violent West Oakland gang was charged Tuesday for his part in Friday's fatal shooting of a 58-year-old grandmother, slain by a stray bullet meant for someone else, authorities said.
Authorities said the suspect, Donte L. Johnson, 25, is not the gunman who killed Lath La in the 1100 block of Eighth Street while shooting at a carload of other people. That suspect is still being sought.
But police and prosecutors said Johnson knows the other suspect, did nothing to stop the attack and was actually "urging" him to shoot at the car.
That participation led to Johnson being charged Tuesday with murder and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. For sentencing enhancement purposes, Johnson also is accused of having two prior narcotics convictions, including one that sent him to prison in 2005.
Assistant District Attorney Tom Rogers said Tuesday the possession of a firearm charge is somewhat unusual in such a case. He said that even though Johnson did not have physical possession of the gun, "by directing (the gunman) to fire he was in effect controlling the gun," which allows him to be charged under the statute.
La's daughter, Lisa Ohm, said Tuesday of the arrest, "I feel a little bit better. (The police) do care about us, they do their job. I appreciate them. They care about my mother. They are willing to keep looking for (the other suspect)."
She said a funeral service in which a Buddhist monk will perform a blessing will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Lone Tree Cemetery, 24591 Fairview Ave., Hayward. The family is in the process of setting up a trust fund.
La, who had come to the United States many years ago to escape Communist oppression in her native Cambodia, was a tragic victim, in the wrong place at the wrong time, police said.
A friend had driven La to an Eighth Street apartment so she could visit some relatives.
Homicide Sgt. Phil Green said Tuesday that just as La exited the friend's van, the gunman was chasing and shooting at a car that was driving eastbound on Eighth with Johnson "running alongside him urging him to shoot."
Green, who is investigating the case with Sgt. Rick Andreotti, said police have heard, but not confirmed, that people in the car were targeted in retaliation for an earlier shooting in the same area.
It is still unknown if anyone in the car, or the car itself, was hit by gunfire.
But La was hit by stray bullets, as was her friend's van.
Based on witness statements, Johnson was arrested later Friday night at his Eighth Street apartment not far from where the shooting happened. He denied any involvement in the shooting.
"He knows who did it but he is still refusing to cooperate," Green said.
Police and CrimeStoppers of Oakland are still offering up to $20,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of the gunman. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 238-3821 or Crime Stoppers at 238-6946.
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