2 Ex-Cons Charged With Oakland Murder

OAKLAND, CA — Two ex-cons have been charged with special circumstances murder for the fatal shooting of a man during a robbery in West Oakland two weeks ago, prosecutors said.

Dorsey Howard, 26, and Zuberi Steel, 29, both of Oakland, are charged with murder and the special circumstance of committing a murder during the course of a robbery for the shooting death of 46-year-old Joachim Hanwright of San Francisco in the 1700 block of Seventh Street, near Oakland's main post office, at about 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 24.

Howard and Steel loitered in the 1700 block of Seventh Street waiting for Hanwright to exit a residence he owned so they could rob him, Oakland police Officer Michael Jaeger wrote in a probable cause statement.
When Hanwright left the residence, Howard ran up to him while holding a pistol and when the two men struggled Steel ran up to help Howard, according to Jaeger.

Hanwright was able to break free and run away but Dorsey then fired multiple shots at him, striking him and causing him to collapse in the street, Jaeger said. Hanwright was pronounced dead at the scene.

Howard and Steel entered Hanwright's residence after the shooting but then fled the scene without taking anything, Jaeger wrote.

Howard and Steel were arrested on Aug. 31 after witnesses identified them as being the suspects who were involved in the fatal shooting, according to Jaeger.

When police interviewed Howard he admitted to being on the scene and to entering Hanwright's residence after he was shot, Jaeger said. When officers executed a search warrant at Howard's residence on 12th Street in West Oakland, not far from the fatal shooting, they found clothing that video surveillance indicates he was wearing during the shooting, according to Jaeger.

Prosecutors allege that Howard has prior felony convictions for first-degree burglary with a person present in 2009 and first-degree residential burglary in 2011.

Jaeger said Howard was still on parole for the 2011 conviction at the time of the fatal shooting.

Prosecutors allege that Steel has a 2006 conviction for possession for sale of cocaine and a 2012 conviction for being an ex- felon in possession of a firearm.

Howard and Still were arraigned on Tuesday and are scheduled to return to court on Sept. 20 to enter pleas.

— Bay City News; Image via Shutterstock

Also See:

• Please Don't Help My Kids
• Top Googled Health Question In California
• 13 Calif. Restaurants Among 100 'Most Scenic' In America, New Ranking Says