Teen Faces Arraignment For Murder With Special Circumstances

OAKLAND, CA — An 18-year-old Oakland man appeared in Alameda County Superior Court today on special circumstances murder charges for allegedly fatally shooting a man in North Oakland last year while he and an accomplice allegedly robbed the victim of his backpack, prosecutors said.

The arraignment of John Blacknell for the shooting of 21-year-old Jaccare Vanpelt at about 1:50 p.m. on April 3, 2016, in the 6000 block of Idaho Street wasn't completed today so it was put over to Jan. 5.

Blacknell is charged with murder, an enhancement clause for allegedly discharging a gun to kill Vanpelt and the special circumstance of allegedly committing a murder during the course of a robbery.

Oakland police Officer Kris McClain wrote in a probable cause statement that officers who responded to a report of a shooting found Vanpelt suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and he was pronounced dead at the scene about 15 minutes later.

Witnesses told police that Vanpelt was confronted by two males who robbed him of his backpack, according to McClain.

One of the male suspects was identified in August 2016 as Blacknell and later in the investigation the other suspect was identified as Damarie Jones, who is still at large, McClain wrote.

Blacknell, who was arrested at Alameda County Juvenile Hall on Nov. 7, was formally charged on Nov. 9.

— Bay City News; Image via Shutterstock