Oakland: Recent triple homicide was over $10 marijuana deal, police say

OAKLAND — A third suspect was arrested and charged in connection with a Jan. 3 triple homicide inside a local liquor store, which police now say was motivated by a conflict over a $10 marijuana deal.

The suspect, Jamaal Myers, aka Michael Jackson, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, but police say he was “positively identified” as the man who two of the homicide victims bought marijuana from shortly before they were shot and killed. Two other suspects have already been charged, including Darrell “Dutch” Tatmon, who faces three murder charges, and Angelo Pharr, who is charged with assault, court records show.

Myers, 58, was released from jail after posting $100,000 bail, court records show. After his arrest, he admitted to police that he sold brothers Luis Antonio Valdez-Gomez and Kevin Andrew Valdez-Gomez marijuana before the shooting, inside the Sky Market on 85th Avenue and International Boulevard in Oakland. Police say that Myers and Kevin then got into an argument, prompting Tatmon to punch Kevin and draw his pistol.

After Tatmon allegedly pulled a gun, Kevin pulled his own pistol and fired a shot inside the store, police say. Tatmon allegedly shot back. When the smoke cleared, Luis, Kevin, and an innocent bystander, Miguel Angel Ramirez, were all dead. Tatmon suffered a nonfatal gunshot wound and later checked himself into a hospital, police said.

Tatmon allegedly stood over Kevin and shot him after he’d been disarmed, according to police. Pharr and Myers allegedly “assisted” in disarming Kevin.

The charging documents say Myers has nine prior felony convictions, including two for assault, and several prior gun convictions, and is legally barred from possessing guns because of this. He has pleaded not guilty and is next due in court on March 10.