Page One

Two unrelated shootings last weekend in west Berkeley along with recent violent crimes plaguing south Berkeley are symptomatic of a larger issue that needs to be addressed, police said. 

On Saturday night police responded to a report of gunfire in the 2100 block of Sixth Street, where they found a victim shot in the stomach and bleeding in the stairwell of an apartment building, said Lt. Cynthia Harris of the Berkeley Police Department.  

Though the victim was not cooperative in giving police information about the man who shot him, special enforcement unit officers who were patrolling the area arrested a suspect during a routine traffic stop. 

“What happened was a vehicle description was being completed by officers,” Harris said. “At about same time special enforcement officers were in the area. Soon after, they learned the person they had stopped was responsible for the shooting.” 

Rodney Collin, 29, of Berkeley, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon. Police can upgrade the charge to attempted murder if they find that the suspect’s intent was to kill the victim. 

The second shooting occurred early Monday, at about 3:30 a.m., at Seawall Drive and University Avenue, which is in the Berkeley Marina. 

“The victim was in marina with some friends in his car. Also in a separate car were some acquaintances of the victim,” Harris said. “The victim got into a verbal dispute with another person not associated with them. He got out of his car to confront the individual, and he was shot.” 

The victim and his acquaintances left the scene and flagged down an officer on University and Sixth avenues. 

The suspect in this case is described as a black male in his early 20s, approximately six feet tall, of slim build, with a mustache and a medium complexion. He was wearing a black knit cap, dark jeans and a puffy jacket. He was accompanied by a Hispanic male in his late teens, of slim build, who was wearing a black beanie, dark jeans and a puffy jacket. The two men fled in a dark-colored, late model Honda Accord.  

Both victims were taken to Highland Hospital and are in stable condition. 

The crimes have caused anxiety among area residents. 

“We are listening to their concerns,” said Berkeley Police Chief Daschle Butler. “We have been working with outside agencies to address these issues and we will continue to fight this battle in these neighborhoods.”  

Police are asking anyone with information about any crimes to contact them.