On April 22, 2023, in East Oakland near 94th Avenue, 13-year-old Desiree Jenkins and her 44-year-old mother, Rebecca Jenkins, were fatally shot inside their Birch Street apartment shortly after 11 p.m. Desiree had been hosting a sleepover with her best friend, who was wounded and taken to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. Two other children, a 7-year-old and an infant, were in the apartment and were unharmed.

Police arrested 46-year-old Antonio Lamont Powell at the scene on suspicion of murder and assault with a firearm. Powell, who was on parole for a prior domestic violence conviction, was reportedly involved in an argument with Rebecca Jenkins before the shooting. He has been charged with two counts of murder and four counts of felony child abuse; prosecutors say he faces a potential sentence of 110 years to life if convicted on all counts.

Family members described the killings as a tragic act of domestic violence. Rebecca’s 15-year-old daughter Denise Jenkins said she heard multiple shots and saw Powell in a rage, and spoke of Rebecca’s dedication to her children and Desiree’s plans to one day own a hair salon. The school district offered behavioral health support and a GoFundMe was started to help with burial costs and support the surviving children.

Did anyone in the area see or hear anything the night of April 22 that could help clarify what happened?