Lead suspect in homicide of beloved Oakland restaurant owner also suspected in death of San Ramon woman

OAKLAND — Just two months after Artgel “Jun” Anabo Jr. was gunned down next to the popular Oakland restaurant he co-founded and owned, the lead suspect in his killing turned up 30 miles east, in San Ramon, at the scene of another suspicious death.

Now, police say they are investigating the same man, an Oakland resident and suspected professional diesel fuel thief, for possible involvement in both the killing of Anabo and the July 26 death of 35-year-old Monica Metzger, who was found unresponsive in the bathtub of her San Ramon apartment. Metzger’s death was dubbed “suspicious” by police, but is still under investigation; the coroner’s office hasn’t determined the official manner of death, authorities say.

Last August, police arrested the Oakland resident on suspicion of involvement in Anabo’s killing, but he was released pending further investigation. This newspaper is not naming him because he hasn’t been charged in connection with either death. He does have an active felony grand theft case in Napa County, and last October a warrant was issued for his arrest when he failed to appear for a scheduled court date , records show.

Other than the fact that both cases share the same suspect — and that both investigations involve stolen vehicles —  they bear no similarities. Anabo, 39, was fatally shot while he and his 11-year-old son stood next to his restaurant, Lucky Three Seven, on the 2800 block of Brookdale Avenue in Oakland. Police believe a black 2009 Ford Escape with a license plate number 8ZTF474 is connected to the shooting.

Anabo, who co-founded Lucky Three Seven with his cousin Mark Legaspi, was one of the most recognizable figures around the lower Dimond District and along Fruitvale Avenue. He could often be found chatting up customers inside or around the restaurant and was known to help out folks if they couldn’t pay for a meal. He tried to use Lucky Three Seven’s popularity as a force for good in the community, setting up block parties or concerts, and even arranged for artists to paint a mural across the street from the restaurant — art which since his death has been modified to include his visage.

According to law enforcement sources, as police interviewed friends and family members of Anabo, they began hearing the same story again and again: that he and an Oakland resident were involved in an awkward dispute that was growing increasingly hostile. It allegedly started when Anabo purchased a Dodge Ram for his cousin from the man, unaware that the vehicle had been reported stolen. When he discovered the vehicle was stolen, Anabo allegedly demanded his money back, which amounted to tens of thousands of dollars.

In a heated conversation shortly before his death, Anabo reportedly told the Oakland man, “when you bring me my money, you’ll get your cars back.” He was fatally shot hours later.

Two months later, on June 26, the same Oakland resident called 911 from Metzger’s San Ramon apartment, lied to police about his identity, and claimed he found his “sister” unresponsive in the bathtub. When police arrived, they got a different story; this time, the man impersonated his own brother, and claimed he had forced the apartment open, only to find Metzger in the bathroom, dead or dying.

But police soon figured out that he was lying about his name, and that he was actually Metzger’s longtime on-again, off-again boyfriend, who had been arrested several times on suspicion of battering her. Metzger had an active 100-yard restraining order against him for one of those domestic violence incidents. And the man had another reason to lie to police about his name: he was wanted on a felony grand theft warrant, according to court records.

When police asked him how he got to the area, he pointed to a Ford pickup truck in the parking lot, which turned out to have been reported stolen out of Oakland on May 27. Inside the vehicle, police discovered a cache of evidence related to possible diesel fuel and vehicle theft, including counterfeit temporary license plates, counterfeit DMV receipts, and nearly 100 keys, authorities say.

On top of all that, police say Metzger had injuries to her face and neck that appeared inconsistent with slipping during a shower. Investigators dubbed her death “suspicious” and referred it to the Contra Costa County Coroner for an autopsy. San Ramon police Chief Denton Carlson, reached by phone for comment, said his investigators are awaiting results of the autopsy, which are expected to be issued in coming weeks.

“We are still very much investigating the death of Monica Metzger,” Carlson said.