On April 22, 2023, Rebecca Jenkins, 44, and her 13-year-old daughter, Desiree, were fatally shot in their Oakland, California, residence. The incident occurred around 11 p.m. on Birch Street, where both were pronounced dead at the scene. A third victim, a child visiting for a sleepover, sustained gunshot wounds and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The suspect, identified as 46-year-old Antonio Powell, was arrested at the scene.
Powell, who was on parole for a prior domestic violence conviction in Oregon, allegedly shot Rebecca Jenkins while she was in bed with her one-year-old infant. He then reportedly shot and killed Desiree, followed by wounding the visiting child. Several other children, ranging in age from 1 to 15 years old, were present during the incident but were physically unharmed.
Authorities have charged Powell with two counts of murder and four counts of felony child abuse, reflecting the presence of minors during the shootings. If convicted on all charges, he faces a potential sentence of 110 years to life in prison. Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price described the case as a "horrific example of gun violence" and emphasized the commitment to holding the defendant fully accountable.
Family members have indicated that the tragedy stemmed from a domestic violence incident. A GoFundMe page established for the Jenkins family mentions that Rebecca and Desiree were "taken from us too soon" due to domestic violence. Rebecca Jenkins leaves behind three surviving children, for whom the funds are being raised to provide support.
The Oakland community has been deeply affected by this incident, which occurred during a weekend marked by multiple shootings in the city. The Oakland Unified School District acknowledged the loss of "beloved members" of their community and has provided additional behavioral health support to the affected schools. They emphasized the need to address the cycle of violence to prevent such tragedies in the future.
