‘It wasn’t even aimed at him’: Oakland man charged with involuntary manslaughter in allegedly accidental killing of 17-year-old boy

OAKLAND — A 23-year-old man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of his 17-year-old friend, just one day after he was arrested on a fugitive warrant, police said.

Malik Jelks, of Oakland, was charged with killing 17-year-old Oakland resident Jemilen Enoch in a March 19 shooting. Oakland police and the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Jelks on Monday at an undisclosed location in Antioch, and he was charged with involuntary manslaughter the following day, authorities said.

Jelks is being held in Santa Rita Jail with no listed bail amount. His next court date has been set for Sept. 6.

Police say the slaying of Enoch was investigated as a potential murder, but that after the shooting Jelks was allegedly overheard frantically insisting, “it wasn’t even aimed at him,” referring to a firearm. Enoch was fatally shot March 19 inside his home in the 1000 block of 82nd Avenue in what at the time was the 23rd homicide investigated by Oakland police.

According to police, Jelks was dating Enoch’s sister at the time of the shooting, and the three were hanging out together. The girlfriend was in another room when the shooting occurred and didn’t see exactly what occurred. Jelks allegedly told her the gun somehow fired, without further explanation, authorities said.

In contrast to murder, which can carry a life sentence, felony involuntary manslaughter carries a penalty of up to four years in state prison under California law. Court records indicate prosecutors didn’t file any sentencing enhancements to go with the manslaughter charge.