It has emerged that the brother of 24-year old Devin Lee Whitmire of Berkeley, who was murdered in south Berkeley on March 29, was with the victim on the night of the killing and he fought with the suspect in the case, 19-year-old Randall Oscar Alston, also of Berkeley, after the slaying and immediately preceding Alston’s arrest.
Alston was due to be arraigned today in Alameda County Superior Court.
Court documents show that Whitmire and his brother were on the sidewalk outside Bob’s Liquors and Deli at Sacramento and Oregon streets when they were approached by Alston and a second suspect. Whitmire’s brother knew Alston and acknowledged him. Alston responded by acknowledging Whitmire’s brother. Whitmire’s brother then saw Alston and the second suspect approach Whitmire and saw the second suspect displaying a handgun.
The brother yelled a warning to Whitmire and they both began to flee but the brother then heard “numerous gunshots” and discovered that Whitmire had been hit.
About 30 minutes after the shooting, Whitmire’s brother spotted Alston and “physically assaulted him”. Berkeley police who were nearby and spotted the assault then detained the brother and Alston, according to the the records.
The brother identified Alston and said he was one of the people responsible for shooting Whitmire. Whitmire was was pronounced dead at Highland Hospital in Oakland.
Whitmire’s death is the third homicide in Berkeley so far this year.
Related:
Reward offered to help find suspects in Berkeley homicide [04.03.12]
Police identify victim and suspect in Thursday slaying [04.01.12]
Southside residents contend with spate of shootings [03.30.12]
Sacramento Street shooting victim dies, arrest made [03.30.12]
Shooting on Sacramento and Oregon, victim wounded [03.29.12]
