Triple Homicide In Oakland on Thanksgiving day!

[sonofisis]

Slide Show pics of the crime scene:
http://www.ktvu.com/news/10390667/detail.html

OAKLAND — Avenging a perceived dishonor is what police believe led to the shooting deaths of a woman, her mother and teenage brother Thursday afternoon in a North Oakland apartment.

Police said Friday the two suspects arrested thought the family they targeted had something to do with their brother's still unexplained death in March and after months of brooding and verbal threats finally took their revenge.

"This is all about two things: truthfulness and honor in (the suspects') eyes," said homicide Sgt. James Morris.

"They felt the family had something to do with their brother's death and they had to do something," said Morris, who is investigating the case with Sgt. Lou Cruz.

Killed were Winta T. Mehari, 28, her brother, Yonas Mehari, 17, and their mother, Regba Baharengasi, 50, who all lived in the apartment in the 5300 block of Telegraph Avenue where the shooting happened about 3 p.m. Thursday.

One investigator said of the crime scene, "It was like hell was brought there."

A 22-year brother of the victims — who police described as a hero for disarming the main suspect — was shot in the foot and another brother, 20, suffered a broken back when he leaped from the third-floor apartment to avoid being shot.

The suspected gunman was identified as Asmeron Tewolde Gebreselassie, 43, a taxi driver who was arrested along with his brother, Tewodros Tewolde Gebreselassie, 39, an unemployed engineer who police said helped plan the attack.

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Morris said Asmeron Tewolde Gebreselassie admitted the shooting to police hostage negotiator Sgt. Dave Faeth and later to him and Cruz.

Tewodros Tewolde Gebreselassie admitted to being in the apartment when the shooting happened and to a "limited involvement," Morris said.

Morris said the suspects had been upset with Winta Mehari and other members of her family ever since their brother, Abraham G. Tewolde, 42, a mechanic, died March 1 in Berkeley. At first, it was thought he died from a heart attack, but the coroner's office still has it classified as an unexplained death, adding to the brothers' concerns, police said.

Morris said the brothers had been brooding about the death ever since and although there had been no prior physical violence, they had made some verbal threats.

On Thursday the Mehari family was having its traditional Thanksgiving meal where more than a half dozen people were present. Morris said before their brother's death, the two suspects had often attended the meal but were not expected to show up Thursday.

But Tewodros Tewolde Gebreselassie showed up unexpectedly and after an hour of socializing, made a phone call, Morris said.

Within minutes, Asmeron Tewelde Gebreselassie showed up with pistols in both hands and began shooting at people inside the apartment as soon as he entered, Morris said.

When the shooting started his younger brother grabbed their deceased brother's 2-year-old son by Winta Mehari and fled, Morris said.

The three people killed apparently died right away. As others inside the apartment tried to flee, the victims' 22-year-old brother began fighting with the gunman, causing him to drop a gun and escape, Morris said.

Responding police were directed by witnesses to another apartment in the complex where the suspects' family lived, saying they had fled there.

Faeth and other negotiators were brought to the scene as well as police SWAT officers.

Morris said Faeth not only got admissions from Asmeron Tewolde Gebreselassie, he was also "instrumental in getting them to surrender."

Six of their relatives and the abducted 2-year-old were also brought out of the apartment, police said.

The two suspects were each booked on three counts of suspicion of murder.

On Friday, family and friends gathered in a ground floor apartment at the complex for a formal prayer service led by members of the Eritrean Orthodox Church in Oakland.

[Samoan Enforcer]

kain tell your fam to stop fuckin up my old hood

[Sparegeez]

That was my homie's family. I couldn't believe it when he told me what happened. His family now has to take care of a parent-less young daughter. Doode goes to my school.

[Mr. O]

Shit..

[Bay Area Jat]

Thats some fucked up shit. 2 many senseless killings in the town. My hommies cousin sister just got shot a few days before thanksgiving she got 2 kids and a dead husband. Shes all the kids got and shes laid up in the hospital.

[Don Jacob]

somebody wanted some cranberry sauce

[Ocho Cinco]

I guess the dry turkey I ate wasnt bad.

What pussies jumping out of windows and hiding in closets, shits digusting 

I rather die.

[J$crILLa]

some crazy shit right there

[Sanford - V. President of the Dangerous Crew Movement]

its like every 3 days somebody is murdered in oakland.  im fuckin glad my brother got up outta the east.