San Leandro police arrest 13-year-old in fatal Safeway stabbing
SAN LEANDRO, Calif. - San Leandro police arrested a 13-year-old boy in connection with a deadly stabbing inside a Safeway store, authorities said.
The stabbing happened on April 2 at a Safeway on Bancroft Avenue.
Authorities said 18-year-old Zion Gooden was stabbed in his arm and chest. He later died at a local trauma center.
Detectives with the San Leandro Police Department were able to piece together what led to the deadly stabbing. Investigators said a dispute occurred between Gooden and the 13-year-old suspect over an interaction the minor had with an associate of Gooden's.
That confrontation escalated into a fight, during which the juvenile stabbed Gooden. Police said there is no evidence that the two knew each other before this incident.
Police said surveillance video and witnesses led them to the suspect. The suspect was arrested last Thursday at his school in a neighboring city. The minor is being held at Alameda County Juvenile Hall.
A search warrant served at his residence yielded further evidence linking him to the crime.
"Definitely surprised…especially with a crime of this magnitude that the suspect is someone of such a young age," San Leandro Police Lt. Abe Teng said.
Police advise parents to talk to their children about how to resolve conflicts peacefully.
The Alameda County District Attorney’s office has since filed criminal charges against the juvenile. The suspect is facing one count of murder.
