Janath Liyanage, 32, of Garden Grove, was shot and killed on August 20, 2019, in Oakland’s Uptown neighborhood. The shooting occurred about 11:13 p.m. on 20th Street near Thomas L. Berkeley Way and San Pablo Avenue after Liyanage was approached by two men who were allegedly looking to rob people that night.

Police reports name Tyrone McAllister, 19, and Dennis Evans, 28, as the two men. Investigators say McAllister fired a single shot; Liyanage later died at a local hospital. Surveillance footage and other evidence reportedly linked McAllister and Evans to this incident and to an earlier robbery that evening of a 67-year-old jewelry store owner, whom they followed home and robbed.

Both McAllister and Evans were charged with special circumstances murder, second-degree robbery and firearm-related counts; the special circumstances allegation stems from the killing occurring during a robbery. The case drew attention partly because McAllister is the estranged son of former Union City Police Chief Darryl McAllister, who publicly expressed sorrow over his son’s actions.