BERKELEY — Four people have been charged in a shoot-out earlier this month between rival groups in South Berkeley, according to authorities and court records. Three of them are in custody and the fourth is being sought.
No one was apparently injured in the May 1 exchange of gunfire in the 1600 block of 62nd Street but at least one vehicle was hit by bullets.
Charged with attempted murder are Justin Scott Lofton, 22, of Oakland, Isabella Lai Saturn, 21, of Oakland and Jamel Wilcox, 19, of Oakland. Charged with accessory after the fact to attempted murder is Deandre Bess, 23, of Oakland.
Wilcox, who is being sought, is also charged with shooting at an occupied motor vehicle, and Lofton is additionally charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The three in custody are being held without bail and are scheduled to enter pleas June 7.
According to authorities and court documents, Wilcox and Bess were one faction of the shoot-out and Lofton and Saturn the other. Police have not given a motive for the shooting or said if they believe it is gang-related.
According to court documents, video surveillance from the area helped lead to the identities of the four suspects.
Authorities said Wilcox and Bess drove to the scene together. They got out of the car and got into a verbal altercation with someone before Wilcox pulled a gun. Multiple shots were later fired, and Wilcox and Bess could be seen fleeing afterward in the car. Bess was arrested May 15 near his East Oakland home.
According to the documents, Lofton was the one being shot at by Wilcox and he returned fire. He was driven from the scene by Saturn in a car police later determined had been rented by Lofton.
Lofton and Saturn were arrested May 23 at a home in East Oakland where they apparently were living together, authorities said. According to court documents, clothing the two were seen wearing at the time of the shooting was recovered at the residence.
According to the court documents, Lofton has a 2017 felony conviction for carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle for which he received probation. Bess has a prior felony conviction in 2016 for the same charge that he also was placed on probation for. Police said Saturn is on probation for grand theft.
Police said Wilcox should be considered armed and dangerous, and if anyone sees him, they should call the nearest police agency. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call Berkeley police homicide investigators at 510-981-5741.
Staff writer George Kelly contributed to this report.