Oakland Man Charged With Murder of Dublin High Graduate

By Bay City News—

An Oakland man has been charged with murder for allegedly fatally shooting another man in East Oakland three weeks ago.

[Related article: Dublin High Graduate Shot, Killed in Oakland]
 
Jonathan Rhone, 30, was arraigned earlier this week on the murder charge for the shooting death of 24-year-old Jacob Velasquez of Oakland at about 10:35 p.m. on March 5 in the 2500 block of 11th Avenue, near Bella Vista Elementary School.

He's scheduled to return to Alameda County Superior Court on April 8 to enter a plea. Police said Velasquez was shot multiple times inside a sport utility vehicle. Oakland police Officer Phone Tran said in a probable cause statement that Rhone surrendered at police at about 7:10 p.m. on March 6, less than 24 hours after Velasquez was killed.

[Related article: Funeral Services for Dublin High Grad Murdered in Oakland]
 
Tran said Rhone denied that he had shot and killed Velasquez and said another suspect carried out the shooting. However, Tran said Rhone admitted that after the shooting that he removed Velasquez from the SUV and had driven the alleged other suspect away from the scene.
 
Rhone also admitted that he later tried to destroy evidence inside the SUV by cleaning Velasquez's blood and disposing of expended shell casings, according to Tran.
 
Rhone was released after he was questioned on March 6 but he was arrested in Newark on March 21 after police developed more evidence against him.
 
In addition to murder, Rhone is charged with being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm and unlawful firearm activity by someone convicted of domestic violence. Prosecutors say he also has a prior felony conviction for possession of marijuana.