Prosecutor Says There's Enough Evidence to Convict Man of 2011 Murder

A prosecutor told jurors Wednesday that there’s sufficient evidence to convict a man of murder and attempted murder for a shooting in East Oakland in broad daylight in September 2011 that left one man dead and another man wounded. Robert Drawn, 35, is charged with murder for the death of 35-year-old Waleed Wheatfall and for allegedly wounding a second man in a shooting in a parking lot of the Safeland Market in the 5700 block of Foothill Boulevard around 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 17, 2011.

Prosecutor Butch Ford admitted in his closing argument in Drawn’s trial Wednesday that the motive for the shooting isn’t clear but he told jurors to disregard defense attorney Penny Trieu’s contention that the lack of a motive means that there’s reasonable doubt that Drawn was the shooter and he should be found not guilty. Ford asked, “Is there ever a good motive to kill someone in broad daylight while two kids are riding by on their bicycles? To walk up and shoot one man (Wheatfall) six times and then shoot another man (Wheatfall’s friend) four times, both of them unarmed?”

Ford said although the motive for the shooting isn’t obvious, Drawn and Wheatfall had some kind of disagreement shortly beforehand.

“This conversation led to the shooting, whatever was said,” Ford said. Ford said the shooting was captured on a surveillance video and when police searched Drawn’s vehicle, which was left at the crime scene, they found an SKS assault rifle and Drawn’s DNA and other evidence connecting him to the shooting. Drawn fled Oakland after the shooting but he was featured as a fugitive on the “America’s Most Wanted” television program and was arrested by U.S. marshals in Indio in Riverside County on Feb. 23, 2013.

Drawn’s attorney, Penny Trieu, told jurors that they should find him not guilty because there’s a lack of evidence connecting him to the shooting. Trieu alleged that Wheatfall’s friend, who identified Drawn as the shooter, is “a liar” and that Oakland police had “tunnel vision” and focused exclusively on Drawn instead of on other possible suspects.

Trieu said, “The real question is who committed this crime and the evidence hasn’t proven beyond a doubt that Mr. Drawn did it.” But Ford said Wheatfall’s friend is a reliable witness who put his safety and his family’s safety at risk by identifying Drawn. In addition to murder and attempted murder, Drawn is charged with three illegal gun counts.

Jurors began deliberating Drawn’s fate late Wednesday after receiving legal instructions from Alameda County Superior Court Judge Larry Goodman, who is presiding over the case.

By Bay City News

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