OAKLAND, Calif. — A federal grand jury has indicted nine individuals in connection with the death of Oakland police officer Tuan Le, who was fatally shot while responding to a burglary at a cannabis dispensary in December 2023. The indictment marks a significant development in the high-profile case, although none of the defendants are formally charged with the actual shooting.
Initial arrests took place soon after Le’s death, with four suspects apprehended on murder charges. However, the judicial proceedings became complex; earlier this year, an Alameda County judge dismissed charges against one of those initial suspects. The new federal indictment includes the same four individuals—Marquise Cooper, Mark Sanders, Allen Brown, and Sebron Russell—accused of participating in a conspiracy to distribute over 100 marijuana plants and engage in firearms offenses.
In addition to conspiracy charges, Brown and Russell face specific allegations related to firearm violations in the context of drug trafficking. Prior to the federal charges, these defendants had pleaded not guilty to murder charges in Alameda County Superior Court.
The indictment also named five additional suspects, including Janiero Booth (also known as Javon Herrington), Jowaun Jones, Shawn McGee, and Salvador Munguia, all charged with conspiracy and possession related to the distribution of cannabis. Two others, Jasmine Kumar and Felicia Sanders, have been charged as accessories after the fact, further complicating the web of accusations in this case.
All nine defendants were either arrested on Wednesday or were already in custody when the indictments were announced. They made initial appearances in federal court in San Francisco shortly thereafter. Many of them are scheduled for bail hearings next week before Magistrate Judge Thomas S. Hixson, but it remains unclear if they have legal representation at this time.
The charges stem from a series of armed burglaries targeting marijuana grow facilities between December 28 and December 29, 2023. Le was killed during a chaotic pursuit following the third burglary, during which multiple gunshots were fired at responding officers. Evidence presented in court has identified Sanders as the alleged shooter and Brown as the getaway driver.
In a troubling detail, federal prosecutors allege that Kumar, who is reportedly in a relationship with Sanders, and Felicia Sanders, the shooter’s mother, attempted to assist him in evading authorities by purchasing a one-way plane ticket shortly after the incident.
The tragic loss of Officer Le marks a significant moment for the Oakland community. His death was the first time in almost 15 years that an Oakland police officer was killed in the line of duty, and he was the city’s 126th homicide victim in 2023. Originally from Saigon, Vietnam, Le was known for his commitment to serving the community, having joined the Oakland Police Department four years before his untimely death.
At his memorial service, former Interim Chief Darren Allison remembered Le as embodying a legacy of service, reflecting on Le’s personal story and enthusiasm for policing. Allison, who awarded Le his badge upon graduation from the police academy, emphasized the profound impact Le had on those around him, attributing to him a warm smile and a heartfelt dedication to his duties.