OAKLAND — The April death of a 76-year-old man, less than a week after a portable toilet he was using at a West Oakland homeless camp was deliberately set on fire, is being investigated as a homicide, authorities said.
Paul A. Jones died April 21 at a San Francisco hospital, where he was being treated for severe burns to 42 percent of his lower body, authorities said.
He was brought to the hospital April 15 after he was severely burned in a portable toilet at the camp in the 600 block of Sycamore Street. Authorities said he told medical personnel he had been using the toilet when someone set it on fire.
Based on his injuries, what he told hospital personnel and an autopsy, Jones’ death was classified as a homicide on May 31, authorities said.
Police said Jones lived a few blocks away from the camp, but was there looking for someone when he had to use the toilet.
investigators were still trying to pinpoint a suspect and motive in the killing. No arrests have been announced.
Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $10,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 510-238-3821 or 510-238-7950 or Crime Stoppers at 510-777-8572.