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Police make arrests in recent Berkeley shootings

Daily Planet Staff Reports
Tuesday November 28, 2000

Berkeley police arrested one suspect Saturday evening in connection to last week’s shooting at Ward and Sacramento streets and arrested the suspect’s wife on unrelated charges. 

Problems in the troubled area do not appear to be under control. Police responded to reports of “shots fired” at Derby and Sacramento streets about 6 p.m. Monday. No officer was available for comment on this incident. 

Police believe the man arrested, Jarrell LaFawn Blasher, 26, of Hayward, was responsible for the shooting of a 29-year-old man Nov. 20 who was seated in his car at a red light at Ward and Sacramento streets. The suspect allegedly shot the victim as he drove by him at about 9 a.m. near Longfellow Middle School, as children were walking to school, said Lt. Russell Lopes. 

The victim was shot in the chest and left forearm, was treated at both Alta Bates and Highland hospitals and has survived his wounds, police said.  

Lopes said this shooting “may have been in retaliation” for an another shooting, which occurred about 11 p.m. on Nov. 14 at 2714 Sacramento St. 

Lopes said police believe the suspect thought the man he shot Nov. 22 was the shooter in the earlier incident, but that the victim, in fact, was not involved in the earlier incident.  

Police also suspect that Blasher may be connected to shots that were reported fired in the same area late last week. 

Blasher was arrested for attempted homicide and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was armed with a high caliber semi-automatic handgun when he was arrested. Blasher’s wife, Kimberly Rochelle Blasher was arrested at the same time for carrying a loaded and concealed firearm, after a loaded handgun was found in her purse. 

Both are at Santa Rita Jail pending arraignment. 

Lopes said police believe the incidents are unrelated to the homicide last summer of a man near Sacramento and Oregon streets. There is a suspect in that murder, but police need to gather more evidence before they can arrest that person, Lopes said.