Judge Finds Man Accused of Killing 3 in May Incompetent to Stand Trial

A judge ruled today that an Oakland man who’s charged with three counts of murder for allegedly fatally shooting his father and two other men at an apartment in North Oakland in May is incompetent to stand trial and suspended legal proceedings against him.

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Vernon Nakahara based his ruling on reports by two psychiatrists who have examined 31-year-old Damien Robinson, who is accused in the shooting in the 900 block of 54th Street at
about 2:45 p.m. on May 23.

Prosecutors identified the three shooting victims as Darrell Robinson, who was Damien’s father, Benjamin Williams and Raymond Garza. In addition to the three counts of murder, Robinson is charged
with the special circumstance of committing multiple murders.

Oakland police said the shooting at Robinson’s family’s apartment at 975 54th Street was reported by Robinson’s uncle, Willie Robinson, who told dispatchers that Robinson had just shot his family.

Damien Robinson remained barricaded inside the apartment for about two hours after the shooting but then came out and was taken into custody, police said. Officers then went into the apartment and found Darrell Robinson, Benjamin and Garza dead.

Prosecutors allege that Damien Robinson has four prior felony convictions: one each for evading an officer, battery with injury on a peace officer, first-degree residential burglary and corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant.
Robinson, who currently is being held without bail at the Glenn Dyer Jail in Oakland, is scheduled to return to court later this month for a hearing that will determine at which mental facility he will be placed.

--By Bay City News Service

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