Deadly El Cerrito Shooting Was Part Of Marijuana Robbery Plot: Police

EL CERRITO, CA — A man was shot and killed at an El Cerrito plaza last month as part of a plot to rob him of marijuana, police said.

The motive for the shooting that killed the 21-year-old Oakland man was released this week as the El Cerrito Police Department announced the arrest of a second suspect.

Police say Jakari Gibson and Jamir Buckley, both 18 and from Richmond, along with at least one other suspect, lured Jakai Couch to the Del Norte Plaza in the 11200 block of San Pablo Avenue on Sunday, Aug. 23, with the intention of robbing him for marijuana.

There, Gibson and one other unidentified shooter fired into Couch's car, killing him, authorities said. It's unclear if the suspects took anything from Couch that day.

Gibson was taken into custody in connection with the slaying the following day, police said.

The 18-year-old was located in Richmond at around 1:20 p.m. Officers served a warrant at his home, but it's unclear if they found any evidence related to the shooting, police said.

Buckley, authorities say, served as a getaway driver during the robbery. He was located Monday and taken into custody in connection with the deadly shooting, police said.