Deandre Irvin

Deandre S. Irvin, a 43-year-old Black man, was a resident of a tiny home community in West Oakland, California, that provided temporary shelter for people experiencing homelessness. He had been living at the site on Peralta Street for a few months before his death. A fellow resident, whose sister was in a relationship with Irvin, remembered him fondly. “He took the most care of my sister he could have possibly done,” she said. “He loved her so much.”

In the early morning hours of December 3, 2022, just before 3:20 a.m., Irvin was shot at the community where he lived. He was rushed to a hospital but later died from his injuries. The killing sent a wave of shock and grief through the community of about 40 residents. In response to the violence, the city implemented stricter security measures at the fenced-in site, including a ban on visitors, a nightly curfew, and mandatory sign-ins and searches for all who entered. Grief counseling and outreach services were also provided to residents and staff.

Police began an investigation into the shooting, and about two weeks later, they arrested a suspect, Anthony Alonzo, on suspicion of murder. However, he was released without charges. The initial investigation relied on a tentative identification from surveillance footage and conversations Alonzo had with his girlfriend over a jail phone.

For two years, the case saw little public movement. Then, in December 2024, prosecutors formally charged Alonzo with the murder of Deandre Irvin. He was arrested and held in jail without bail. Alonzo spent nearly the next two years incarcerated, maintaining his innocence throughout the proceedings.

In August 2026, the Alameda County District Attorney's Office dismissed the murder charge against Alonzo. The case against him fell apart after ballistics testing was completed on a firearm that had been found in his possession. The tests determined that his weapon was not the one used to kill Irvin. His defense attorney stated, “The physical evidence confirmed what Mr. Alonzo has maintained all along… That he did not commit this murder.”

As of August 2026, with the charges against the only publicly identified suspect dismissed, the murder of Deandre Irvin remains unsolved.