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An unidentified gunman shot and killed a young Berkeley man early Saturday as he arrived outside the San Rafael club where a friend was celebrating her birthday. 

Jerell Lamont Blackmon, 26, was pronounced dead at Marin General Hospital moments after he arrived by ambulance from Club 101, which is located adjacent to a southbound freeway onramp. 

San Rafael Police spokesperson Margo Rohrbacher said Blackmon had just arrived from Berkeley as a passenger in a car at the time of the shooting. 

“A single gunman walked up to the victim and shot him multiple times,” Rohrbacher said. 

Police were called at 2:25 a.m. and arrived moments later. The shooting victim was found on the parking lot pavement, several yards from the club’s entrance. 

Witnesses told officers that three cars sped from the scene immediately after the shooting, including a late model Chevrolet Impala driven by the gunman. 

“Perhaps it was a coincidence, or perhaps there was more than one person involved,” Rohrbacher said. The only shots fired came from the semiautomatic pistol wielded by the Impala’s driver. 

The Marin County coroner’s office completed their autopsy Monday afternoon, confirming the death by gunshot, but Rohrbacher declined to say how many times the dead man had been struck. 

Even though Blackmon was walking in a group at the moment he was shot, no one else was injured. 

“It appears that he was the target,” Rohrbacher said. “Fortunately no one else was hurt.” 

The shooter is described as an African American with a light complexion who is 5’7” tall and weighs about 150 pounds. He was wearing a white shirt and blue jeans. 

Police Monday were conducting a forensic examination of the car in which Blackmon arrived, and interviewing his companions, club employees and others who were present at the club. 

Rohrbacher asked anyone with information about the crime to call the department at (415) 485-3000. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Crimestoppers at (415) 472-2746.