Winta Mehari, a 28-year-old resident of Oakland, California, tragically lost her life on November 24, 2006. She was one of three victims in a horrific shooting that took place during a Thanksgiving Day gathering at an apartment complex on Telegraph Avenue. The other victims were her 17-year-old brother, Yonas Mehari, and their 50-year-old mother, Regbe Bahrenegasi.
The incident shocked the Eritrean community in Oakland, as all the victims and the alleged perpetrators were immigrants from Eritrea.
The shooting was carried out by two brothers, Asmeron and Tewodros Gebreselassie, who were arrested shortly after the incident. The motive behind the killings was rooted in the death of the Gebreselassie brothers' sibling, Abraham G. Tewolde, who had died under mysterious circumstances in March 2006. The brothers suspected Winta Mehari of being involved in their brother's death, although an autopsy had failed to determine a specific cause of death.
On the day of the shooting, Tewodros Gebreselassie arrived at the Thanksgiving gathering and, after confirming the presence of the victims via a phone call, allowed his brother Asmeron to enter the apartment. Asmeron then opened fire, killing Winta, Yonas, and Regbe. Tewodros also took Winta's 2-year-old son to their apartment during the chaos. Several other family members managed to escape, with one suffering a broken back after jumping from the apartment and another being shot in the foot while trying to disarm the gunman.
The legal proceedings that followed were extensive. Both Asmeron and Tewodros Gebreselassie were charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping. In 2011, they were found guilty and sentenced accordingly. However, Tewodros Gebreselassie later appealed his conviction, which led to his case being sent back to the Alameda County District Attorney for a possible retrial. Instead of facing a new trial, Tewodros pleaded no contest to three charges of voluntary manslaughter in 2016. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, a term he had already served, leading to his release.
The case left a lasting impact on the Eritrean community in Oakland, highlighting the devastating effects of unresolved familial conflicts and the tragic consequences of seeking retribution through violence. The community mourned the loss of Winta Mehari and her family, remembering them as beloved members whose lives were cut short by a senseless act of violence.
