Kamahl Middleton, a 36-year-old resident of Pinole, California, was tragically shot to death on December 29, 2014, in Berkeley. The incident occurred in a parking lot near San Pablo and University avenues around 9:45 p.m. Middleton, who was wheelchair-bound due to a spinal injury, was involved in a marijuana deal that went wrong. He and his fiancée, Rebekah Cleberg, had a license to grow medical marijuana and had arranged to sell a strain called "Girl Scout Cookies" to a buyer they connected
with through Craigslist. The buyer, identified as Carl Young, agreed to pay $3,200 for one and a half pounds of marijuana. Berkeley was chosen as the meeting point because it was halfway between the buyer's home in San Leandro and Middleton's residence in Pinole.
On the night of the transaction, Middleton and Cleberg were surprised when the buyer arrived with three other males instead of just his girlfriend. During the meeting, a struggle ensued, and Khalil Phanor, one of the accomplices, stuck his head into the car and announced a stickup before firing a single shot that struck Middleton and Cleberg. Middleton succumbed to his injuries, while Cleberg survived.
The investigation led to the arrest and charging of three individuals: Khalil Phanor, Gregory Foote, and Carl Young. Phanor, who was identified as the shooter, and Foote, who was the driver, were initially charged with murder. However, Alameda County prosecutors later agreed to a plea deal. Phanor pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 11 years in state prison, while Foote pleaded no contest to robbery and being armed with a gun, receiving a six-year sentence. The charges against Young, who was alleged to have set up the botched deal, were dismissed due to a lack of evidence.
Middleton's death was a significant loss to his family and community. He was a graduate of San Francisco State University with a bachelor's degree in marketing and served as the chief marketing officer for a company that produced natural energy drinks. His mother, Ruth Middleton, expressed her grief and anger during the sentencing of Phanor and Foote, describing the shooting as "savage and unforgivable." She emphasized that her son believed in working for a living, not robbing for a living, and highlighted his contributions to society despite his physical challenges.
