Fatal Stabbing: Police Share Suspected Motive; Make 3 New Arrests

PLEASANTON, CA — The Pleasanton Police Department has made another three arrests in connection with the fatal stabbing of Jackson Butler, 19, of Pleasanton.

Police say they executed four arrest warrants for Tri-Valley male juveniles Friday morning. Three were arrested on suspicion of murder and kidnapping during the commission of a robbery, and booked into Alameda County Juvenile Hall. The fourth was not immediately located, but turned himself in around 12:30 p.m., said Lt. Erik Silacci.

Last month police arrested Isaiah J. Howard, 19, in Dublin, on suspicion of accessory to murder, and concealment and destruction of evidence, according to police and jail records.

Officers also arrested a 17-year-old male last month on suspicion of robbery and conspiracy. The teen was among the four juveniles arrested Friday morning, Silacci said. He faces charges of murder and kidnapping during the commission of a robbery, plus charges of accessory to murder, and concealment and destruction of evidence.

Butler was found suffering from multiple stab wounds around 8:20 p.m. April 15 in the parking lot of the Hyatt House Hotel at 4545 Chabot Drive, where he was staying at the time, police said. He later died in the hospital.

Police now say that Butler was advertising and selling cannabis wax, a concentrated form of the drug with high amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. Investigators believe the four young men intended to rob him and an altercation ensued. Butler was stabbed several times, police said.

Pleasanton police thanked the Butler family for its resilience and trust in the department.

"We hope the arrests and pending charges of these violent suspects will bring some form of closure to the Butler family," police said.

Butler's family remembered him as kind and funny, with dreams of making it to the Olympics, Pleasanton Weekly reported. The Amador High School graduate was a judo athlete, The Independent reported.

The case will soon head to the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, Silacci said.

Correction: An earlier version of this report incorrectly identified the number of people arrested in connection with the incident.