Feb 6, 2026 | Press Releases
LARON GILBERT CONVICTED OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER IN THE DEADLY SHOOTING OF KEVIN NISHITA
Conviction Includes Multiple Sentencing Enhancements
February 6, 2026
Oakland, CA — Today, District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson announced that the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office secured convictions against Laron Gilbert (31), Shadihia Mitchell (29), and Hershel Hale (28) for the shooting death of retired San Jose Police Officer Kevin Nishita.
Mr. Gilbert pled guilty to first-degree murder, including sentencing enhancements. He faces a term of 30 years to life in state prison.
Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Hale were convicted of robbery and additional sentencing enhancements. They are both to be sentenced to 25 years in state prison.
“The resolution of this case is both extraordinary and rare,” said DA Ursula Jones Dickson. “That defendant Laron Gilbert pled guilty to 1st degree murder and agreed to be sentenced to 30 years to life reflects the strength of the case that was built by my office and the Oakland Police Department. Deputy District Attorney Allyson Donovan and our inspectors’ division deserve special recognition for their efforts to make this case airtight.”
On November 24, 2021, Kevin Nishita was working as a security guard for a local TV news crew outside a business in Oakland when he was gunned down while attempting to prevent a reporter from being robbed of camera equipment.
“We stand with the Nishita family as they continue to live with the loss of their loved one. We are and will continue to fight for victims of crime to see that justice is done,” explained DA Jones Dickson.
Laron Gilbert, Shadihia Mitchell, and Hershel Hale will be sentenced on April 7, 2026, at 9:30 a.m., in Department 713 at the East County Hall of Justice in Dublin.
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Jan 29, 2026 | Press Releases
MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER OF SAN FRANCISCO POLICE OFFICER
Charges Include Multiple Sentencing Enhancements
January 29, 2026
Oakland, CA — Today, District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson announced that the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office has charged Joseph C Willis II (26) with attempted murder of a San Francisco Police Officer and multiple counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer engaged in the performance of duty.
Mr. Willis is charged with multiple felonies, including attempted murder, three counts of assault upon a police officer with a deadly weapon, attempted carjacking, illegal possession of a gun, and ammunition. The charges also include sentencing enhancements for using a deadly weapon, inflicting great bodily injury, and committing this offence while being released on bail or on his own recognizance in an unrelated felony case.
The complaint alleges that on January 27, 2026, Mr. Willis did unlawfully attempt to murder an on-duty San Francisco Police Officer in the city of Oakland. The complaint further alleges that Mr. Willis attempted to carjack a vehicle while he resisted efforts by the police to arrest him.
Joseph C Willis II is scheduled for arraignment on January 29, in Department 112 of the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse in Oakland.
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Jan 29, 2026 | Press Releases
CHARGES FILED FOR DEADLY SHOOTING AT A GROCERY STORE IN OAKLAND
Each defendant faces multiple felony charges
and the prospect of life in prison
January 29, 2026
Oakland, CA — Today, District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson announced that the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office has filed multiple felony charges against Darrell Tatmon (40) and Angelo Lemelle Pharr (37) in connection with the January 3, 2026, deadly shooting of three victims inside a neighborhood market in East Oakland.
Mr. Tatmon is charged with three counts of murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, and felony possession of ammunition. The charges against Mr. Tatmon include sentencing enhancements for causing multiple murders, use of a gun, and committing an offense while out on bail or released on his own recognizance on two separate felony cases. If convicted, he faces the possibility of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Mr. Pharr has been charged with assault with a semiautomatic gun and possession of a firearm by a felon. Mr. Pharr’s charges include multiple sentencing enhancements, including prior convictions that qualify as strikes under the three strikes law. It is further alleged that at the time of the shooting, Mr. Pharr used a firearm and was out of custody on bail or released on his own recognizance on a separate felony case.
If convicted as charged, Darrell Tatmon could serve a life term in state prison without the possibility of parole.
If convicted of all charges, Angelo Lemelle Pharr could serve a term of 25 years to life in state prison.
“The gunning down of three innocent men — including two brothers — at a neighborhood grocery store sent a shock wave that was felt through our community. I want to thank the Oakland Police Department for their swift investigation, which led to the identification and prosecution of the defendants,” said DA Ursula Jones Dickson.
Angelo Lemelle Pharr is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday, January 29, 2026, in Department 112 at Wiley W. Manuel in Oakland. Darrell Tatmon has a plea hearing on Friday, January 30, 2026, in Department 112 at Wiley W. Manuel.
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Jan 21, 2026 | Press Releases
January 21, 2026
Oakland, CA —District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson announced that Victor Dawson (52) has been charged with multiple felonies, including wage theft, tax evasion, and embezzlement from teachers and parents of students of New Horizons (K-8) School in Newark and Mission Hills Middle School in Castro Valley. Mr. Dawson was the principal of both schools and the owner of New Horizons.
Mr. Dawson is charged with 2 counts of felony wage theft, 2 counts of felony tax evasion, 1 count of misdemeanor tax evasion, and 1 count of felony embezzlement.
The criminal complaint alleges that in 2024, Mr. Dawson committed wage theft against 47 teachers and other staff members, the victims. The complaint further alleges that Mr. Dawson embezzled retirement contributions from six teachers, deducting money for the victims’ retirement savings from their paychecks and allegedly using those deductions for his own benefit. Finally, the complaint alleges that Mr. Dawson evaded paying state taxes and payroll taxes by failing to file the necessary tax returns, while allegedly deducting payroll taxes from the teachers’ paychecks and using those deductions for his own benefit.
“Parents trust that school owners will use tuition funds to educate their children and to compensate teachers for their hard work, not to enrich themselves,” said DA Jones Dickson. “This case represents a breach of that trust. My office’s Worker Protection Division is committed to prosecuting cases when workers are fraudulently denied their earned income.”
“Teachers and school staff are often underpaid for the vital work they do. Stealing from their paychecks or retirement accounts is illegal and a profound betrayal of trust that harms workers and destabilizes schools, putting students at risk,” said California Labor Commissioner Lilia García-Brower. “After teachers came forward with wage theft complaints, my office conducted a thorough investigation and referred the case for criminal prosecution. We are committed to robust enforcement of our labor laws and will continue to aggressively investigate wage theft, protect workers who speak up, and work closely with our law enforcement partners to hold employers fully accountable.”
A civil judgment against Mr. Dawson includes wages owed to employees, labor law penalties, and civil penalties totaling $687,986.42.
Victor Dawson was arraigned on January 20, 2026, in Department 112 at the Wiley Manuel Courthouse in Oakland.
If you believe that you or someone you know may be a victim of wage theft, fraud, or other economic crimes, contact the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office’s Consumer, Environmental & Worker Protection Division: 510-383-8600 or Fax: 510-383-8615
Contact: damedia@acgov.org
Jan 5, 2026 | Press Releases
ELDERLY MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER IN DEADLY SHOOTING OF WOMAN IN FREMONT
January 5, 2026
Oakland, CA — Today, District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson announced that the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office has filed a murder charge against Richard Hocking (93) for the deadly shooting of his 86-year-old wife in Fremont.
Mr. Hocking has been charged with murder. The charge also includes a sentencing enhancement for the intentional use of a firearm.
The complaint alleges that on January 3, 2026, Mr. Hocking did unlawfully, with malice aforethought, murder the victim, his wife. It is further alleged that Mr. Hocking used a firearm during the commission of this crime.
Richard Hocking will be arraigned at 9 AM on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, in Department 702 at the East County Hall of Justice in Dublin.
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Contact: damedia@acgov.org
