Dejoh Woods, a 25-year-old resident of Oakland, California, was fatally shot on April 10, 2021, inside Booker's Grocery Liquor store located at 90th Avenue and Olive Street in East Oakland. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. and was part of a particularly violent day in Oakland, which saw three homicides. Woods was involved in an argument with an unidentified man inside the store, which escalated to the fatal shooting.
The shooter, who reportedly has gang ties, turned himself in to the Oakland police on April 15 and was booked into Santa Rita Jail on suspicion of homicide.
Despite the arrest, the Alameda County District Attorney's Office declined to file charges against the shooter. Prosecutor Casey Bates stated that after a thorough review of the evidence, the decision was made not to charge the individual. Although the specific reasons for this decision were not disclosed, it was suggested that self-defense might have been a key factor. This decision sparked a series of violent retaliatory attacks in the days following Woods' death.
On April 12, two days after the shooting, at least two gunmen fired high-powered rifles at a West Oakland liquor store, critically wounding a cashier. This attack was believed to be directly related to the shooting of Woods. On April 14, someone set fire to Booker's Grocery Liquor store, causing significant damage. The violence culminated on April 17, when an arson fire tore through the home of Esam Musleh, a cashier at Booker's, killing him and his one-year-old daughter, Alia Musleh. Musleh's wife and another relative were injured in the blaze and remained hospitalized.
The investigation into the arson fire, which is being treated as a homicide, has involved multiple agencies, including the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Alameda County Arson Task Force, and the Oakland police and fire departments. A reward of up to $40,000 has been offered for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the deaths of Musleh and his daughter. Despite these efforts, no suspects have been identified, and the case remains unsolved.
The tragic chain of events highlights the ongoing issues of gang violence and retaliation in Oakland, as well as the devastating impact on innocent victims and their families. The community continues to grapple with the aftermath of these violent incidents, seeking justice and safety amidst the turmoil.
