Berkeley police are offering a $15,000 reward and Bay Area Crime Stoppers is offering an additional $2,000 for information leading to the capture of the killer of Kenneth Jerome Tims Jr.
Tims was shot and killed around 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 3, as he was walking along King Street near 62nd in southwest Berkeley. The slaying, Berkeley’s second homicide of the year, happened just a block away from where two people were shot in a car on May 20. Police are looking for Doran Williams, Jr. in connection with that shooting.
While no suspect or motive has yet been identified in Tims’ death, the neighborhood has its fair share of crime, said Andrew Frankel, a spokesman for the Berkeley Police Department. There are drug dealers operating in the area, he said.
Police are investigating whether the two shootings are related. They do not believe Tims’ shooting was random.
“Whenever there are shootings that are similar or geographically so close to one another the detectives always look into the possibility they are connected,” said Sgt. Mary Kusmiss of the Berkeley Police Department.
Berkeley police ask anyone who saw Tims’ shooting to call 510-981-5741. Callers who want to remain anonymous can call Bay Area Crime Stoppers at 800-522-TIPS (8477).