Third suspect arrested as investigators detail $10 marijuana dispute behind East Oakland triple homicide

Arrest adds new defendant in Jan. 3 shooting that killed two brothers and a bystander

A third suspect has been arrested in connection with a triple homicide inside an East Oakland liquor store, expanding a case prosecutors say began with a dispute over a $10 marijuana purchase.

The killings occurred on Jan. 3, 2026, at Sky Market near 85th Avenue and International Boulevard. Three people died after gunfire erupted inside the store: brothers Luis Antonio Valdez-Gomez and Kevin Andrew Valdez-Gomez, and Miguel Angel Ramirez, 54, who investigators have described in court records as an uninvolved customer.

Who has been charged

Court filings and prosecutors’ announcements show three men are now facing criminal cases tied to the shooting. Darrell “Dutch” Tatmon, 40, has been charged with three counts of murder, along with firearms allegations and sentence enhancements that could substantially increase potential prison time if he is convicted. A second defendant, Angelo Lemelle Pharr, 37, has been charged with assault with a semiautomatic weapon and with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The newly arrested suspect, Jamaal Myers, also known as Michael Jackson, was initially charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Investigators say he was later positively identified as the person who sold marijuana to two of the victims shortly before the shooting. He has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to return to court on March 10, 2026.

What investigators say happened inside the store

Investigators have described the encounter as escalating quickly after the marijuana transaction. In court records summarized by law enforcement, audio evidence indicates Tatmon believed he had been disrespected during the interaction, shortly before gunfire broke out. Authorities have not publicly detailed what precisely triggered the initial argument, or whether any of the defendants knew each other before the incident.

Prosecutors and police have consistently described Ramirez as a bystander who was fatally struck during the shooting, a detail that has shaped how the case is being presented in court.

What comes next

With three suspects now in custody or charged, the case is moving through early court stages where judges typically address arraignments, bail, and preliminary hearings. At this point, allegations outlined in charging documents have not been tested at trial, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

• Jan. 3, 2026: Three people fatally shot inside Sky Market in East Oakland.

• February 2026: Prosecutors charge Tatmon and Pharr; investigators describe the shooting as tied to a marijuana-related dispute.

• Feb. 23, 2026: Police announce the arrest of Myers; his next court date is set for March 10, 2026.

The investigation remains active, and additional details—including any surveillance footage, eyewitness accounts, or forensic findings—are expected to be addressed in future hearings.