Oakland police ask killing witnesses to break silence
About 300 people attended an Oakland birthday party where two men were fatally shot and a third was critically injured, but a year later, not a single witness has come forward to describe what they saw.
Oakland police detectives held a news conference Wednesday to ask the public for help in solving the cold-case killings of Terrence McCrary Jr., 22, and Craig FletcherCooks, 20.
“There were hundreds of people there,” said homicide Detective Sgt. Michael Cardoza. “I’m asking that someone come forward. I know that someone saw something.”
McCrary, of Berkeley, and Fletcher-Cooks, of Oakland, were shot and killed around 1 a.m. on Aug. 14 during a block party held at a venue in the 300 block of 15th Street.
Cardoza said gunfire erupted after four men in their 20s grabbed Fletcher-Cooks’ girlfriend to dance. When Fletcher-Cooks stepped in to tell the men she was with him, a fight broke out, Cardoza said.
Fletcher-Cook was shot multiple times before the assailants ran outside the party into a crowd, still firing weapons. A stray bullet hit and killed McCrary, who was not involved with the initial argument, Cardoza said.
A third victim, a 24-yearold man, was shot and critically injured but later recovered, Cardoza said.
Friends and relatives of the victims attended Wednesday’s news conference and called for anyone with information about the shootings to come forward.
“It’s really sad, but for the friends and family and the community as a whole, it’s real,” said Stacey Flowers, a cousin of Fletcher-Cooks. “Let’s allow some type of closure. Somebody knows something. All we ask is that you just come forward.”
With a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, police hope to overcome the neighborhood’s antisnitching culture to get tips on the suspects.
“This is a tragic, tragic incident where two young men were shot and killed. And for what?” Cardoza said.
Police have recovered weapons linked to the shooting, but they would not describe them or say if they yielded fingerprints.
“Terrence was a thoughtful, warm, loving son, brother and friend,” the McCrary family said in a statement. “He was a talented skateboarder and aspiring artist. His death leaves a void in the lives of his family, friends and artist community.”
A skate jam and contest will be held on Sept. 16 at Berkeley Skatepark on Harrison Street in honor of McCrary.
Detectives asked anyone with information on the killings to call them at (510) 2383821 or leave a message on their tip line at (510) 238-7950. Callers can remain anonymous.