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A year ago today, on the night of May 4, 2009 at about 11:30, neighbors reported hearing gunfire in the 1300 block of 67th Street. Berkeley police officers found Maurice Robertson, 18, of Berkeley, dead from gunshot wounds in the backyard of a home there. 

This was Berkeley’s only unsolved murder in 2009. 

According to a recent press release from the Berkeley Police Department, his family is still devastated by their loss. Police Information Officer Jamie Perkins quotes his mother, Charlene Adams, saying, “It would really hurt my heart if I have to live the rest of my life without knowing what happened to my son”. 

Tonight, Tuesday, May 4, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., the family will be holding a vigil in the rear yard of 1340 67th Street in memory of Maurice Robertson. 

BPD detectives want to speak with someone they consider “a person of interest” seen by witnesses near the crime scene before the shooting.  

Witnesses described him as a Black male, 16-19 years old, 5’8” to 5’10” in height, wearing an orange Northface-style windbreaker jacket. 

The City of Berkeley is offering a $15,000 reward and the Bay Area Crime Stoppers have offered an additional $2,000 reward, for information leading to the arrest and convictionof the suspect(s) responsible for Robertson’s murder. 

BPD Homicide Detectives urge anyone who has information regarding this case to come forward. Anyone with information can contact the BPD Homicide Detail at (510) 981-5741 or the BPD non-emergency line at (510) 981-5900. Callers can remain anonymous by calling the Bay Area Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).