Three people have been arrested and charged over a year after Jasper Wu was killed by a stray bullet on a California freeway.
In a news conference, Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley described how 23-month-old Jasper got caught in the crossfire of rival gang members engaged in a “rolling gun battle” on Interstate 880 in Oakland.
As announced by the district attorney’s office on Thursday, Trevor Green, 22, Ivory Bivins, 24, and Johnny Jackson, 34, were brought into custody. Each was arrested for murder, shooting at a vehicle, and possessing a firearm by a felon.
Prosecutors also charged Bivens and Green with conspiracy to commit a crime and criminal street gang conspiracy.
On the freeway, the men were shooting at each other as they were members of rival San Francisco gangs. A dark gray Nissan Altima was driven by Jackson and a man named Keison Lee, while a dark green Infiniti was driven by Green and Bivins.
When a bullet fired from the Infiniti missed the Altima, it traveled across the highway and sailed through Jasper’s windshield. As Jasper lay fast asleep in his carseat, the bullet struck him in the head as it passed through the windshield at an angle. In an instant, he died.
District Attorney Nancy O’Malley commented on the incident, saying “this is the worst nightmare and outcome of gun violence, and especially gang gun violence, that innocent people are quite literally caught in the crossfire. But, the horrific nightmare for the Wu family and their baby being killed in such a senseless and violent manner can never be reconciled.”
Investigators from the California Highway Patrol recovered cartridge cases from freeway lanes and determined that the bullet that killed Jasper matched them.
During the gunfire exchange, CHP investigators also spoke with Lee, who was shot in the lower back and hospitalized. Tests on his hands found gunshot residue, and he admitted during interviews that he had been shot on the freeway, O’Malley said.
Upon recovering the Nissan Altima, investigators found a spent cartridge case of .40 caliber inside. There was also gunshot residue found on the Infiniti vehicle.
In March 2022, Green and Bivins were arrested on warrants for an incident in Contra Costa County, and they will now face charges in Alameda County.
A warrant was also issued for Jackson’s arrest on Wednesday, and he is expected to appear in court on Friday.
In November 2022, Lee was shot and killed in what is believed to be gang warfare, according to O’Malley.
In the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce’s Thursday news conference, Jasper’s father briefly spoke, and his message was translated by Carl Chan.
“It was for them mixed feelings. First thing is first, they were very happy and excited to see this press conference of this case, but at the same time they feel like this is bringing back the memory of day one of what happened,” Chan said.