Latest news with #JoshuaByrd
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Suspect in California parole agent's murder in court as current, former DAs lob accusations over his previous release
The suspect in the murder of California parole agent Joshua Byrd appeared in court Monday as finger-pointing over his previous parole took place between the Alameda County District Attorney and her predecessor. Suspect Bryan Keith Hall's arraignment at the Wiley M. Manuel Courthouse in Oakland was postponed until August 22. He is currently being held without bail at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson said in a press conference that charges against Hall include murder of a peace officer, robbery of a passenger on the bus Hall was on following the shooting, theft of a vehicle during his escape attempt, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Other enhancements include a two-strikes enhancement, which would make it a third strike if convicted. Jones Dickson said her office would seek life without the possibility of parole. Byrd was shot and killed on Thursday at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation parole offices in East Oakland. The 48-year-old Hall, a parolee with a long criminal history, was arrested the same day following an intense manhunt. The motive in the shooting was not clear, but Jones Dickson said Monday that Byrd was not Hall's parole agent and they had had no prior contact. The CDCR said Hall was most recently charged in November 2022 with attempted murder in connection with a stabbing. In February, following a plea deal with the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, Hall pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon, and the attempted murder charges and other special allegations were dismissed. Hall was immediately released on parole because of time already served, the CDCR said. On Monday, former Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price, who left office in December 2024 following a recall vote, claimed her office was not to blame for Hall's early parole in the 2022 stabbing. In a press release, Price said she wanted to "set the record straight" about Hall's release, noting the 2022 crime took place before she was in office and that his plea deal was negotiated following her tenure. "There are those who are intent on spreading disinformation about this tragedy by attributing it to me or members of my Executive Leadership team," said Price in a prepared statement. "The truth is that 98% of all cases are resolved through plea bargains - the criminal justice system could not function without plea bargains. Additionally, the re-entry team that I created was immediately disbanded under the new DA so any opportunity for the DA's office to assess Mr. Hall's mental condition or assist in his safe release into our community was lost." Price called on Jones Dickson to address why Hall, who has a lengthy criminal history in Alameda County dating back to June 1996, was allowed to plead to a lesser charge in the 2022 stabbing and be released on parole. "The community needs to know this decision was made by a line deputy District Attorney in the normal course of business under DA Ursula Jones Dickson," said Price. "DA Ursula Jones Dickson can provide the name of the deputy and address the concerns about his or her decision if she so chooses to do so. She owes the public a truthful explanation." However, in her subsequent press conference, Jones Dickson disputed Price's account and said Price's prior directive against charging enhancements led directly to Hall's early release. "As a result of that, great bodily injury was not charged, and in addition to that, not only great bodily injury, but strikes were alleged, but they could not be considered under that directive," said Jones Dickson. "And specifically, prosecutors could not - they had to plead strikes under the law - but they could not use those strikes as it relates to any plea bargain without permission from the prior administration." Jones Dickson said Hall's plea was negotiated in January, and the sentencing in February occurred when Price's directive was still in place. "My first order of business was to get rid of that directive," said Jones Dickson, who assumed office 11 days after Hall was sentenced. Jones Dickson said since none of the enhancements and none of the strikes were allowed to be considered in Hall's plea, he was able to serve half his time, two years in custody instead of four. "Had he had that same allegation with the enhancements and strikes, we would have been looking at more, like, 12 years and 85% [of time in custody]. Legal analyst Steven Clark said the 2022 plea deal will continue to be a factor hanging over the case. The DA has to explain to the community exactly why they made this plea agreement with Mr. Hall," said Clark. DAs have to make discretionary decisions every day, but when you go from attempted with a knife to credit for time served, I think that's a big jump downward, and a lot of people wanna know why he was given that benefit of the doubt." On Friday, Byrd was honored with a law enforcement procession from the Alameda County Coroner's Bureau in Oakland to a funeral home in Sacramento. First responders stood at attention and saluted on highway overpasses as the procession headed east on Interstate Highway 580. Also on Friday, a moment of silence was held in Byrd's honor at graduation ceremonies for new CDCR correctional officers in Galt. Byrd spent 11 years with the CDCR, mostly as a correctional officer. Last year, he became a parole agent working with the Oakland parole unit.
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
Suspect in California parole agent's murder in court as current, former DA's lob accusations
The suspect in the murder of California parole agent Joshua Byrd appeared in court Monday as finger-pointing over his previous parole took place between the current and former Alameda County District Attorney. Suspect Bryan Keith Hall's arraignment at the Wiley M. Manuel Courthouse in Oakland was postponed until August 22. He is currently being held without bail at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson said in a press conference that charges against Hall include murder with special circumstances of being against a peace officer, robbery of a passenger on the bus Hall was on following the shooting, theft of a vehicle during his escape attempt, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Other enhancements include a two-strikes enhancement, which would make it a third strike if convicted. Jones Dickson said her office would seek life without the possibility of parole. Byrd was shot and killed Thursday at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation parole offices in East Oakland. The 48-year-old Hall, a parolee with a long criminal history, was arrested the same day following an intense manhunt. The motive in the shooting was not clear, but Jones Dickson said Monday that Byrd was not Hall's parole agent. The CDCR said Hall was most recently charged in November 2022 with attempted murder in connection with a stabbing. In February, following a plea deal with the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, Hall pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon, and the attempted murder charges and other special allegations were dismissed. Hall was immediately released on parole because of time already served, the CDCR said. On Monday, former Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price, who left office in December 2024 following a recall vote, claimed her office was not to blame for Hall early parole in the 2022 stabbing. In a press release, Price said she wanted to "set the record straight" about Hall's release, noting the 2022 crime took place before she was in office and that his plea deal was negotiated following her tenure. "There are those who are intent on spreading disinformation about this tragedy by attributing it to me or members of my Executive Leadership team," said Price in a prepared statement. "The truth is that 98% of all cases are resolved through plea bargains - the criminal justice system could not function without plea bargains. Additionally, the re-entry team that I created was immediately disbanded under the new DA so any opportunity for the DA's office to assess Mr. Hall's mental condition or assist in his safe release into our community was lost." Price called on Jones Dickson to address why Hall, who has a lengthy criminal history in Alameda County dating back to June 1996, was allowed to plead to a lesser charge in the 2022 stabbing and be released on parole. "The community needs to know this decision was made by a line deputy District Attorney in the normal course of business under DA Ursula Jones Dickson," said Price. "DA Ursula Jones Dickson can provide the name of the deputy and address the concerns about his or her decision if she so chooses to do so. She owes the public a truthful explanation." However, in her subsequent press conference, Jones Dickson disputed Price's account, and said Price's prior directive against charging enhancements led directly to Hall's early release. "As a result of that, great bodily injury was not charged, and in addition to that, not only great bodily injury, but strikes were alleged, but they could not be considered under that directive," said Jones Dickson. "And specifically, prosecutors could not - they had to plead strikes under the law - but they could not use those strikes as it relates to any plea bargain without permission from the prior administration." Jones Dickson said Hall's plea negotiated in January and the sentencing in February occured when Price's directive was still in place. "My first order of business was to get rid of that directive," said Jones Dickson who assumed office 11 days after Hall was sentenced. Jones Dickson said since none of the enhancements and none of the strikes were allowed to be considered in Hall's plea, he was able to serve half his time, two years in custody instead of four. "Had he had that same allegation with the enhancements and strikes, we would have been looking at more, like, 12 years and 85% [of time in custody]. On Friday, Byrd was honored with a law enforcement procession from the Alameda County Coroner's Bureau in Oakland to a funeral home in Sacramento. First responders stood at attention and saluted on highway overpasses as the procession headed east on Interstate Highway 580. Also on Friday, a moment of silence was held in Byrd's honor at graduation ceremonies for new CDCR correctional officers in Galt. Byrd spent 11 years with the CDCR, mostly as a correctional officer. Last year, he became a parole agent working with the Oakland parole unit.
CBS News
4 days ago
- CBS News
Community mourns loss of parole agent with Sacramento ties
A beloved parole agent with strong ties to Sacramento is being remembered not only for his dedication to public service but also for the profound impact he had both through his work and through the game he loved. Joshua Byrd, a 39-year-old veteran with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, was shot and killed in the line of duty Thursday inside a state parole office in East Oakland. The former Navy servicemember had spent more than a decade working as a correctional officer before becoming a parole agent last year. But in Sacramento, Byrd's legacy stretched far beyond his day job. "He had the biggest smile, the greatest team player you can ask for," said Cary Trzcinski, director of the Pig Bowl, a long-running charity football game featuring local first responders. "He was just an overall great person, great guy to have on our team." Byrd played on the offensive line, a role Trzcinski said fit his quiet leadership style. "Josh was one of the anchors of the team," he said. "Not only on the field, but in the locker room, at practice, and during the community events he took part in. He just kept us all together." For more than 50 years, the Pig Bowl has brought first responders together to raise money for local causes. For those in that close-knit community, Byrd's death hits especially hard. "It hurts even more when one of those officers is one of your brothers," Trzcinski said. "He was family to us. So it hurts because he was one of us." Byrd leaves behind a wife and three children. An online fundraiser has been set up to support his family in the wake of the tragedy. As the investigation continues, friends and fellow first responders say Byrd's life spoke volumes about the kind of man he was, a selfless servant who lifted others around him. "Everything he did was for someone else," Trzcinski said. "He didn't do things to glorify himself or to get credit. He was there for people. He was just an overall good person." Organizers said next year's Pig Bowl will include a tribute to Byrd, ensuring his legacy lives on through a game and a community he helped shape.
CBS News
5 days ago
- CBS News
Slain parole agent honored in procession Oakland to Sacramento; new details emerge in shooting
A solemn procession was held Friday afternoon as law enforcement officials escorted the body of state parole agent Joshua Byrd from Oakland to Sacramento. Meanwhile, new information on his fatal shooting and the suspect has come to light. Byrd was shot and killed at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation parole offices in East Oakland on Thursday. Friday's procession began at the Alameda County Coroner's Bureau in Oakland and ended at a Sacramento funeral home near the home where Byrd lived with his wife and three children. Oakland firefighters joined local law enforcement agencies in saluting Byrd's procession from overpasses as it traveled on Interstate Highway 580. Byrd spent 11 years with the CDCR, most of that time as a correctional officer. Last year, he transferred to become a parole agent, working with the Oakland parole unit. During Friday's graduation ceremony for new correctional officers in Galt, a moment of silence was held in Byrd's honor. "Rest in peace, Joshua Byrd. I was a sergeant when he came through as a cadet over 10 years ago," said Capt. Ricardo Jauregui. "So, I know I have a lot of staff here who are hurting. And it's a constant reminder of how dangerous our profession is." Law enforcement sources told CBS News Bay Area the suspect, 46-year-old Bryan Keith Hall of Oakland, walked into the Oakland parole office building with a gun. There are no metal detectors at the front entrance. A security guard working in the next building told this reporter he heard two gunshots. After Hall allegedly shot and killed Byrd, he crossed the street and got on an AC Transit bus, law enforcement sources said. Hall allegedly threatened the driver and ordered him to drive away. The sources said he later got off somewhere in East Oakland and allegedly stole a car, which was found abandoned near 79th Avenue and International Boulevard. Hall eventually walked to a bus stop at 90th and International, where police arrested him. A handgun that police say was used in the shooting in a trash can near that car. Hall has a lengthy criminal history in Alameda County that dates back to June 1996. Over the past 29 years, he's been charged with robbery, assault, drug sales, auto theft, evading police, and attempted murder. Before Thursday's shooting, his most serious case involved stabbing a man in Oakland's Lakeshore District in 2022. Officials say he randomly stabbed the victim in the neck. That man survived and Hall later pleaded no contest to assault with a deadly weapon as part of a plea deal. He served more than two years in jail and was released on parole in February. It's still unclear if Byrd was hall's parole officer or what motivated the shooting. The Oakland CDCR parole office was closed on Friday. CBS News Bay Area asked CDCR and the union that represents parole agents whether security measures will be changed, but no response was received as of Friday afternoon. Governor Gavin Newsom ordered that flags at the State Capitol be flown at half-staff in Byrd's honor. Newsom and Acting Governor Eleni Kounalakis issued a joint statement mourning the "heartbreaking loss" and praised Byrd for serving "with integrity and courage". On a GoFundMe page, friends and colleagues described the 40-year-old navy veteran as a "great guy" and "very dependable." The online fundraiser had raised 90% of its $75,000 goal as of Friday afternoon. Byrd's death was the CDCR's first line-of-duty death since 2018.
