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by Harry Harris and William Brand, OAKLAND TRIBUNE
A group of young men viciously beat a homeless man to death
in his makeshift living quarters along a West Oakland railroad siding
early Saturday in what police said was the latest in a similar series of
attacks.
The victim was identified as Dalrus Joseph Brown, 52. He was known on
the street as "DJ." Police said robbery was not a motive.
Homicide Sgt. Bruce Brock said the suspects -- three to five young men
ranging in age from 16 to 20 -- not only beat the man for several
minutes while other homeless people watched helplessly -- "they also
ripped apart his shelter."
Brock said, "It is pretty cowardly for a group of people to viciously
attack an obviously defenseless person. He was a completely innocent
victim."
The attack -- which may have started while the man was sleeping --
happened about
5 a.m. on a railroad siding that runs behind the old Nabisco plant near
14th and Poplar streets, police said.
The Alameda County Coroner's office said death apparently was caused by
a blunt object.
Brock said after the attack the suspects were seen walking possibly
toward a nearby public housing project.
He said the suspects in the beating did not live at the encampment.
The deadly attack was the most recent in a series of severe beatings of
homeless men living in West Oakland encampments
by the same or a similar group of suspects, police said.
At least two other victims required hospitalization. One man was
attacked on Kirkham Street and the other in the area of 32nd and Helen
streets.
Hours later, Ron Gibbs, the homeless man who saw the body and called
police, sat on a bench near the murder scene watching detectives examine
the debris-strewn crime scene.
"I saw the guy around for a six or seven years and we got to talking to
each other," he said. "I've been jumped a few times and hurt. Other
times these guys show up and throw bottles at us. I don't sleep there
anymore."
The man, who was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, was
sprawled on blankets with what appeared to be personal items strewn
about. His face and clothing were bloodied.
Three teenagers, 14 to 15, were arrested two weeks ago after savagely
beating a homeless man with a board near 30th and Myrtle streets. Police
believe there may have been other attacks not reported.
Police are trying to notify homeless people in the area about the
potential danger as well as trying to find them living quarters, said
Lt. Paul Berlin, who supervises West Oakland.
He said trying to locate the homeless during the day is somewhat
difficult because they are usually away from their encampments. So he is
having officers working the overnight shift to contact the homeless.
The murder scene is less than 100 feet from National Recycling Center, a
major destination for homeless and street people selling cans they have
collected. A note on the entrance states the premises are covered by a
surveillance camera.
But Rose Wang, who works at the recycling center, said the camera only
transmits live images. "But now we're definitely going to upgrade our
system," Wang said.
At the campsite, the ground was covered with garbage, parts of bicycles,
discarded bedding and plastic tarps.
Henry Singleton of the East Oakland Community Project said while no one
has come into the project complaining about an assault, the homelessness
situation is bad; it seems to be an ongoing thing.
The killing was Oakland's 44th homicide of 2004. Last year at this time
there were 60 homicides.
Crime Stoppers of Oakland is offering up to $10,000 reward for
information leading to the arrest of the suspects. Anyone with
information can call police at 238-3821 or Crime Stoppers at 238-6946.
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