Oakland, California – Two teenagers, Jamal Watts and Juliese Lawson, both 18 years old, have been charged with murder and attempted murder in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred outside a fast food restaurant in Oakland. Court records reveal that the incident, which took place on January 21st, resulted in the death of a man in his 20s, identified as Kenyetta Chapman from Brentwood, and left a 19-year-old woman injured.
According to police reports, Chapman and the young woman were sitting in a parked car outside the restaurant on East 24th Street early in the morning when a man approached them, fired shots, and then fled. While Chapman succumbed to his injuries, the woman managed to escape by running away and hopping over a fence. It has been alleged that Lawson was the one who carried out the shooting, with Watts allegedly providing him with a shotgun.
Watts, who is currently detained at Santa Rita Jail, is scheduled for an arraignment in mid-April. On the other hand, Lawson remains at large and is considered a fugitive by authorities. Nine days after the shooting, Watts came under police scrutiny in connection with an armed robbery incident. In a twist of fate, the victim of the robbery was saved from a fatal gunshot wound by the gardening clippers he had in his shirt pocket.
The funeral for Kenyetta Chapman was held in February at a church in Richmond, where he was remembered as a dedicated family man who worked tirelessly to provide for his loved ones. Described as a man of ambition, kindness, and intelligence, Chapman’s tragic death has left a deep impact on his community. Ongoing investigations into the shooting aim to bring closure to the grieving families and seek justice for the victims.