Keison Lee, a 34-year-old resident of Oakland, California, tragically lost his life on November 4, 2022, in a drive-by shooting near the Oakland Coliseum. The incident occurred in the 800 block of 81st Avenue just after 3:00 p.m. When officers arrived at the scene, they found Lee suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite receiving immediate medical attention and being transported to a nearby hospital, Lee succumbed to his injuries.
The Oakland Police Department's Homicide Section took over the investigation, which led to the arrest of Darious Smith, a 34-year-old Oakland man, who was charged with special circumstance drive-by murder, being a felon in possession of a weapon, and other related charges. Smith was held without bail as the investigation continued.
The investigation into Lee's death revealed that he was involved in a separate incident prior to his murder. Lee was one of the suspects in the 2021 fatal shooting of 23-month-old Jasper Wu, who was killed by a stray bullet during a gang-related gunbattle on Interstate 880 in Oakland. The shootout involved members of two rival gangs, Chopper City and Eddy Rock. Lee, along with Johnny Jackson Jr., was in a dark gray Nissan Altima, while Trevor Green and Ivory Bivins were in a dark Infiniti G35. During the exchange of gunfire, a bullet missed the Altima and struck the Wu family's car, killing the toddler. Lee was shot in the exchange but survived, only to be killed in the unrelated drive-by shooting in November 2022.
The arrest of Darious Smith for Lee's murder marked a significant development in the case. Smith's charges included special circumstance drive-by murder, which indicates the severity of the crime and the potential for a life sentence without the possibility of parole if convicted. The ongoing investigation aimed to uncover further details about the motive behind the shooting and any additional suspects involved. The Oakland Police Department continued to urge anyone with information to come forward to aid in the resolution of the case.
Lee's death and the subsequent arrest of Smith highlighted the pervasive issue of gun violence and gang-related activities in Oakland. The tragic loss of life, including that of young Jasper Wu, underscored the devastating impact of such violence on the community. The legal proceedings against Smith and the other suspects involved in the gang-related shooting of Wu were closely watched, as they represented a broader effort to address and mitigate gang violence in the area. The community's response and cooperation with law enforcement were crucial in bringing justice to the victims and preventing further tragedies.
