Rigoberto Rico-Jimenez, a 26-year-old resident of San Leandro, California, was fatally shot on January 17, 2019, in East Oakland. The incident occurred around 6:20 p.m. near the intersection of 107th Avenue and Russet Street, close to San Leandro Street and BART tracks. Rico-Jimenez was found by responding officers suffering from a gunshot wound to his left temple.
Despite being rushed to a hospital, he succumbed to his injuries two days later, on January 19, 2019.
The investigation into Rico-Jimenez's death revealed that he was shot during an altercation at a nearby homeless camp. Surveillance footage showed Rico-Jimenez entering the camp through a hole in the fence, followed by two other men, Jaime Alejandre and Miguel Angel Feliciano. Shortly after, several gunshots were heard, and Rico-Jimenez and Alejandre were seen exiting the camp. A subsequent gun battle ensued between Alejandre and Feliciano outside the camp, during which Rico-Jimenez was struck by a bullet and fell to the ground.
Jaime Alejandre, a 28-year-old convicted felon, was charged with murder for his role in the shooting. He was also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and carrying a loaded firearm in a city. Alejandre had a prior conviction for the 2012 fatal shooting of Francisco Rosas, for which he had pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter and served a prison sentence. Miguel Angel Feliciano, 33, was charged with voluntary manslaughter and similar firearm-related offenses for his involvement in the incident.
The case against Alejandre and Feliciano was built on the surveillance footage and witness statements. Alejandre was arrested on November 20, 2019, while Feliciano was taken into custody on May 28, 2019, in connection with another case. Both men faced significant legal consequences for their actions, with Alejandre's prior criminal history playing a crucial role in the charges brought against him. The tragic death of Rigoberto Rico-Jimenez highlighted the ongoing issues of gun violence and crime in the Oakland area, prompting further efforts by law enforcement to address these challenges.
