Two charged in Oakland double homicide; police say one victim was armed

OAKLAND — After being arrested at a Bay Area beach, a man and woman have been charged in connection with a recent quadruple shooting here, court records show.

DeJuan Pickens, 34, of Concord, was charged Thursday with two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges stem from the Aug. 17 Oakland shooting that resulted in two deaths and two injuries.

On the same criminal complaint, 33-year-old Rebecca Taylor, of Oakland, was charged with helping Pickens escape. She faces a felony count of accessory after the fact.

Both defendants are being held without bail and were advised of the charges at their first court hearings on Thursday, records show.

Police say the shooting resulted from an argument between Taylor and three other people, near Taylor’s apartment on the 1600 block of 83rd Avenue in East Oakland. Pickens was there and saw that one of the involved parties — police haven’t said who — had a gun on them, according to court records.

Pickens then retrieved a gun from a satchel and opened fire at the three people Taylor was arguing with, as well as the fourth armed person, authorities said. After the shooting, the two fled but were eventually arrested at McNears Beach in Marin County on Aug. 19, records show.

The two homicide victims have been identified in court papers as Waltrice Dilliehunt and Tyrell Bland. Their ages weren’t immediately available.

After her arrest, Taylor “provided a full confession” to police and admitted to helping Pickens flee, police said in court papers. Pickens refused to talk to authorities and asked for a lawyer.

The two surviving victims required hospitalization, authorities said.

Police are expected to announce the charges at a news conference set for noon on Friday.

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