The Alameda County district attorney’s office confirmed that all charges against one of the four men initially suspected in the shooting death of an Oakland police officer were dismissed this week.
On Dec. 29, Oakland Police Officer Tuan Le and other officers were working undercover when Le was shot in the head and killed while driving an undercover vehicle. During the shooting, the suspects were allegedly trying to flee from a marijuana grow facility, which police say broke into twice during the night.
Before the charges were dropped, prosecutors said the shooter was Mark Sanders. However, following a preliminary hearing this month, an Alameda County judge ruled Marquise Cooper, 35, should not face murder charges because he was merely the lookout in the burglary and not inside the marijuana operation when Le and another officer arrived in an unmarked pickup truck.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Cooper’s attorney, Ernest Castillo, said that prosecutors’ case for the murder charge against Cooper was weak.
“Nothing’s really going to happen to anyone on those things,” Castillo said. “I think they (prosecutors) figured, like, ‘Why waste our time?'”
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price said the charges were dismissed “without prejudice” and a lack of evidence but the investigation will continue about Cooper’s role in the burglary, reported CBS News.
Oakland Police Officers Association issued a statement on X that said they were “concerned” about prosecutors dropping all charges against Cooper.
“Perpetrators of violent crimes must face consequences, otherwise it sends a dangerous message that undermines public safety and emboldens those who threaten the peace and security of our neighborhoods,” said Huy Nguyen, the association’s president. “We look forward with anticipation to the DA’s next step in the process of seeking justice.”
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Criminals acting in the concert of a felonious crime should be punished. The D.A. of Alameda County should review the Penal Code of California and follow the the laws instead of applying laws that should be applied to kindergarten level school children.
The murder of a Oakland Police Officer should be held in the highest regards and the perpetrators of that crime should be punished. That criminal should not be excused and not dismissed as if he accidentally stepped on a dog.
What do you think?
You are absolutely correct, and THIS IS EXACTLY WHY this D.A. must be removed from office. She is not a prosecutor. Her entire history is one of defense ala ACLU.
THIS IS LUNATIC. LOOKOUT GE NEEDS TO NAMED IN THE MURDER FOR JUST BEING THERE AND SONEONE GOT KILLED. WHAT TGE HELL. MAKE IT MAKE SENSE D A. MADAM PANELA PRICE THIS MAN, A HUMAN BEING, IS DEAD BECAUSE IF A ROBBERY GONE BAD. LE WAS DOING HIS JOB. THE LOOK OUT MAN SHOULD OF NOT OF BEEN THERE. A CRIME HAD BEEN COMMUTED AND YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THE COMMISSION AND THAT’S YOU PLAYED A PART OF MURDER. THE EXCUSE FOR THE NOT BEING CHARGED IS REDUNGNANT. THAT’S ONE IF THE REASONS SHE’S BEING RECALLED .
How can anyone take you seriously? Public education and basic reasoning have failed you. “Should of…” is one of my favorites.
The DA is acting appropriately; the prosecutor took the case to prelim against a defendant which then showed their evidence was weak and insufficient to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. This is proper justice. If further investigation reveals stronger/additional evidence, then the case can be refiled.
You are correct that decision was made based on insufficient evidence to “prosecute” and “convict” (cost of trial vs. liklihood of verdict) which is the case which ANY good lawyer should evaluate, HOWEVER this does NOT mean person is “INNOCENT” of murder, simply DA does not have confidence he can convict, in a community where Jurors prefer to set criminals free because of their color or social background. This is NOT justice, this is the legal system which we created.
I agree with all of your thoughts.
A ” look out person” is a integral part of a robbery team. That person would be given the task of warning all the other criminal members that law enforcement members have arrived on scene to arrest them. They were obviously vicious enough to use the weapons that were deployed against the responding officers. Shooting and murdering a police officer who was truly protecting and serving the tax paying citizens of our community.
This incredulous act and poor decision of releasing this criminal is why this, “Make Believe D.A.” should be removed from this critical government position.
Do you agree or disagree?