Features

Oakland Man is Berkeley’s Latest Murder Victim: By MATTHEW ARTZ

Friday September 10, 2004

Berkeley’s fourth murder victim of the year—all in the past two months—has been identified as John Hunt, 40, of Oakland. 

Hunt was gunned down on the 1700 block of Sixth Street at 12:23 a.m. Sunday morning, Police spokesperson Joe Okies wrote in a press release. 

Police know of no motive or suspects in the murder. The investigation is continuing. 

Witnesses indicated they heard gunfire and saw a car speed away with two to three occupants that may have been involved in the murder, according to police reports. The car was described as a newer, possible two-door American-made car, metallic champagne in color. 

Hunt was rushed to Alta Bates Summit Medical Center where he was pronounced dead a short time later. 

Hunt’s death comes nearly three weeks after Val Cooper, a 23-year-old from Tulsa, Okla. was gunned down in daylight at Adeline and Harmon Streets 

Two weeks prior Samuel Anderson, 64, was shot dead in his Alcatraz Avenue apartment and on July 18 Mario “Tip-Toe” Jackson died after a gunman opened fire as he stood in the driveway adjacent to his grandmother’s house on Ashby Avenue. 

The last three killings have all taken place within a one-mile area in South Berkeley. None of the murders have been solved and police do not know if there are any links in the killings.