Driver arraigned on murder charge
DUI suspect, 22, accused of killing CHP Officer Andrew Camilleri on Christmas Eve
DUBLIN >> About a dozen CHP officers packed the East County Hall of Justice courtroom Tuesday afternoon for the arraignment of the man accused of killing their fellow officer in a Christmas Eve crash.
Mohammed Ali, 22, of Hayward is charged with murder for the death of rookie CHP Officer Andrew J. Camilleri, who died in the crash on Interstate 880 in Hayward. Ali’s other charges include DUI causing bodily injury and driving on a highway faster than 100 mph.
Ali, who appeared in court for the first time Tuesday, sat in a wheelchair, had one arm in a cast, the other in a splint and wrapped, and wore bright red jail clothes. In the back of the courtroom, at least 12 CHP officers stood, while Camilleri’s mother, Sharon Camilleri, sat in the front row with another family member.
“Our hearts are broken, our lives were shattered, and we love Andy so much, and we miss him,” said Sharon Camilleri outside the courtroom, with a CHP-logo jacket draped over her walker.
At least four family members of Ali also were present at the arraignment and sat on the opposite side of the courtroom. They did not make any comments.
“Both of them (Camilleri and Ali) were fathers, both of them had kids and families that are bereft,” said Ali’s attorney, Phil Schnayerson.
He said from what he’s seen so far from the police report, the “clearest definition” of what occurred could be gross vehicular manslaughter, a lesser charge than murder.
CHP Capt. Tim Pearson spoke outside the courtroom before the hearing, saying he hoped to get a message out there about the dangers of driving under the influence, and even distracted driving.
“There are countless numbers of families going through the same thing on a regular basis,” Pearson said. “Hopefully we can get a message out there and prevent someone from going through the same thing that the Camilleri family and our office is going through.”
Ali, who is suspected of driving with a blood alcohol level of .11 percent and also under the influence of marijuana at the time of the crash, allegedly slammed into the back of the CHP patrol vehicle parked on the side of the freeway. Camilleri was in the front passenger seat. His partner, Jonathan Velasquez, was in the driver’s seat, and was also injured but has since been released from the hospital.
Camilleri, 33, of Tracy was a married father of three who had just graduated from the CHP academy in March.
Ali had been in the hospital since the crash, and had not been booked in Santa Rita jail until Friday. He did not enter a plea Tuesday afternoon and will appear again in court later this month.
Ali has three prior speeding tickets, according to DMV records: In February 2015, he was cited for speeding over 65 mph on an unknown freeway and an unsafe lane change; he was also ticketed in June 2015; and in January 2016, he received a citation for speeding over 65 mph on an unknown freeway.
Ali was arrested in 2013 in connection with a commercial burglary, but court records show he was later released and the misdemeanor charge was dismissed.