OAKLAND — An 18-year-old man was charged with murder Thursday in the stabbing death Monday of his longtime friend in East Oakland after an argument between the two that partially involved the victim’s dog, according to authorities and court documents.
Martez Penn, of Oakland, is accused of killing Jalain Dickson, 19, who was stabbed outside his home in the 2000 block of 64th Avenue just before 6 p.m. Monday. He died later at a hospital.
A witness told police Dickson had identified Penn as the person who stabbed him before he succumbed to his wounds, according to the a probable cause statement written by Oakland homicide Sgt. Gloria Beltran.
Penn, who was arrested about an hour later at another location, told investigators he and Dickson had been friends for several years and had been “hanging out” starting around noon that day. According to Beltran’s probable cause statement, Penn said the two got into an argument over what he called Dickson’s “erratic behavior” and because Dickson was allowing his dog to run into the street.
Penn initially told investigators he was acting in self defense when he stabbed Dickson, but later admitted chasing him down and stabbing him out of anger because Dickson had punched him twice, according to the documents.
Penn is being held without bail at Santa Rita Jail. He is scheduled to be arraigned Friday.