Ira Wright Jr., a 30-year-old resident of Oakland, California, was tragically killed on October 25, 2015. The incident occurred during a dominoes game in East Oakland, specifically in the 2700 block of 76th Avenue, near Wright's residence. According to police reports, Wright was engaged in a game of dominoes when a confrontation erupted between him and another individual. The altercation escalated, resulting in Wright being fatally shot.
Despite immediate lifesaving efforts, Wright was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into Wright's death revealed that the suspect fled the scene before police arrived. Witnesses identified the shooter as Dante Rene Budd, a 29-year-old Oakland resident. Budd was later apprehended and charged with murder. The case took a significant turn when the Alameda County District Attorney's Office allowed Budd to plead no contest to a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, along with an enhancement for using a firearm during the commission of the crime. This plea agreement was reached on October 17, 2017.
Budd's criminal history included a prior felony conviction for forgery in Santa Clara County in April 2014. During the investigation, video surveillance footage corroborated witness statements, showing Budd approaching the scene before the shooting and fleeing afterward. The evidence also included a single gunshot hole in the front door of the residence where the dominoes game took place, which traveled into the living room wall. The residence was occupied by two adults and two children at the time of the shooting.
On January 12, 2018, Budd was sentenced to 21 years in state prison for the voluntary manslaughter of Ira Wright Jr. The case highlighted the ongoing issue of gun violence in Oakland and the devastating impact it has on the community. Despite the resolution of the case, the loss of Ira Wright Jr. remains a poignant reminder of the need for continued efforts to address and prevent such tragedies.
