Police make arrest in South Berkeley double shooting

Berkeley Police at the scene of a double shooting in South Berkeley on Wednesday. Photo: Charles Siler

Update, June 14: According to the Daily Cal, Wood’s arraignment Friday afternoon was canceled. He is no longer in custody, according to the Alameda County sheriff’s department, and no charges appear to have been filed.

Original story, June 12, 3:40 p.m. A 21-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the South Berkeley shooting that sent two people to the hospital Wednesday.

The Berkeley Police Department originally arrested Charles Wood on suspicion of assault with a firearm on a person, and receiving known stolen property, according to the Alameda County sheriff’s department. [Update, 6:50 p.m. According to the sheriff’s department, Wood’s alleged violations are now listed as being an accessory, and receiving known stolen property worth more than $400. His bail has been lowered to $20,000 from $80,000.]

Wood was arrested just after 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Berkeley Police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer Coats confirmed Thursday that Wood was arrested “for involvement in the shooting” Wednesday.

But she said she could not release any additional information about the arrest or the case.

“We are still in the early stages of the investigation and won’t be releasing any further details at this point,” she said via email. “Investigators are actively working the case.”

Coats said police believe there are other people involved with the shooting who have not been arrested. She also noted that police believe Wood was involved in Wednesday’s incident, but are not releasing publicly at this time in what way.

Wood, who is from Hayward, is being held at Berkeley Jail. He is scheduled for arraignment Friday at 2 p.m. at the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse in downtown Oakland in department 112.

Wednesday’s shooting was reported to police just after 4:30 p.m., when residents said they heard up to a dozen gunshots near Russell and California streets.

Authorities responded and found two men, ages 18 and 21, who had been shot. Both were taken to the hospital for treatment.

According to scanner recordings, both men were conscious when first responders arrived. One of the men was shot in the leg and the other may have been shot in the arm and wrist area. Police found bullet casings nearby.

Officers closed parts of the 1600 block of Russell and the 2800 block of California during their investigation.

Residents reported an uptick in drug dealing activity recently in the apartment complex where the shooting took place, at 1611 Russell St.

One resident, who asked not to be named out of concern for his safety, said police officers searched yards to the north of 1611 Russell for impact points from bullets.

The officer told him police found impact points inside the grounds for the YMCA Learning Academy, in the 2800 block of California, which is across the street, to the south of the apartment complex.

The resident said people frequently hang out around the apartment complex, adding that dice games are a regular occurrence.

At least one community member who was in the area after the shooting said it appeared gunfire had been exchanged between two groups.

“For those players who were shot today and returned fire this is all in the game,” wrote one Berkeleyside commenter, identified as bgal4. “I do not consider them victims. We are the victims, innocent law abiding folks hostage to these guys violence, making our homes and neighborhoods unsafe.”

Coats said she could not comment on this aspect of the investigation.

Wednesday’s shooting was the second double shooting in Berkeley since Saturday night. In that incident, two teenagers were shot at La Quinta hotel on University Avenue in West Berkeley.

Police have not released any updates about that case. Coats said Thursday that no one has been arrested.

She said there is no indication at this point that the two shootings are related. Coats said police continue to follow up on both cases.

The Berkeley Police Department asks anyone with information about either shooting to call 510-981-5900. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can reach Bay Area Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

This story was updated shortly after publication with additional information from the Berkeley Police Department.

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Emilie Raguso