Berkeley police cruiser (file photo). Photo: Emilie Raguso
Berkeley police cruiser (file photo). Photo: Emilie Raguso

Berkeley police have arrested five people in connection with shots fired last week from someone in a car with a BB gun.

According to Sgt. Andrew Frankel, BPD spokesman, police received several reports of someone shooting a BB gun from a silver sedan early last Tuesday morning, July 19.

Shortly after midnight, there was a report from Channing Way and Ellsworth Street where two people in a car shot someone in the back with what was believed to be a BB gun, according to authorities.

Frankel said that, about 45 minutes after the initial call, a Berkeley Police officer “heard BB gun shots coming from a car that fit the description” provided earlier.

The vehicle was stopped at Shattuck and Alcatraz avenues in South Berkeley, and was occupied by five people, three adults and two juveniles. All five were arrested without further incident, Frankel said.

According to online records from BPD and the Alameda County sheriff’s office, the adults who were arrested were identified as Demarea Davis Jr., 18, of Richmond; Danilo Lawrence, 19, and Robert Smith Jr., also 19.

They were arrested on suspicion of willfully discharging a BB device in a grossly negligent manner that could result in injury or death to a person. It’s a misdemeanor charge that could result in county jail time of up to one year.

All three have been released, on $7,500 bail, and are scheduled for a pretrial hearing Aug. 25. No further information was available about the juveniles due to privacy laws protecting minors.

The night of the arrest, UCPD also reported that, at 12:22 a.m., eight UC Berkeley students were on the steps outside International House when a man began shooting at them with what was likely a BB or pellet gun. One person was taken to the hospital to be treated for a minor injury.

UCPD spokeswoman Sgt. Sabrina Reich said the agency’s detectives are investigating to see if that call may relate to the BPD arrest.

Have a question about a local public safety incident? Write to crime@berkeleyside.com. Photographs and videos are always appreciated.

Related:
Police: Possible BB gun used in Berkeley students’ assault (07.18.16)
Crime log: Car crash follows Senior Streak, confiscated swords, stolen golf carts (06.22.16)
Homeless man robbed at City Hall by teen with replica pellet gun (05.11.16)
Apple store theft alert, threats of shooting — over stolen steak — at Berkeley Bowl, more (04.15.16)
BPD, city investigate possible pellet shooting of 5 animals (03.26.16)
Berkeleyside blotter: Crime in Berkeley, 2/25-3/2 (03.22.16)
2 Berkeley High students injured, 3 arrested after fights downtown (01.22.15)
Authorities investigate BB gun shooter on Telegraph (06.06.14)
Berkeleyside Police Blotter: Crime in Berkeley, Jan. 9-15 (01.21.14)
Berkeleyside Police Blotter: Crime in Berkeley, Dec. 12-18 (12.23.13)
Berkeleyside Police Blotter: Berkeley crime, April 11-17 (04.22.13)
Albany shooting suspect in custody after long standoff (12.19.12)
Police blotter: Recent crime in Berkeley (06.27.12)
Police Blotter: Occupy Berkeley (12.22.11)

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Emilie Raguso (former senior editor, news) joined Berkeleyside in 2012 and covered politics, public safety and development until her departure in 2022. In 2017, Emilie was named Journalist...