On November 6, 2010, Oakland police responded to the 1000 block of 8th Street to investigate a shooting that was determined to be a double homicide. As a Nixle registered user near or in the commmunity of West Oakland, we would like to share with you the results of a succesful response, investigation, arrest, and prosecution in this case. The below is sent to you in collaboration with the Alameda County District Attorney's Office. For more information, please visit ow.ly/bKhoH.
On June 19, 2012, a jury found Nicholas P. Harris guilty of two counts of first degree murder, each with personal use of a firearm, for the brutal murders of 17-year-old Edward Hampton and 18-year-old Nario Jackson. On November 6, 2010, at approximately 3:30 pm, victims Edward Hampton and Nario Jackson were sitting in a vehicle parked in front of City Towers, located on the 1000 block of 8th Street in West Oakland. Defendant Harris appeared from a side gate of the City Towers and fired 9 to 11 times into the passenger side of the victims' vehicle. Both victims died at the scene. Although there were multiple witnesses at the location, there were few leads in the case until a fellow gang member provided a statement to the Oakland Police Department six months after the murders. After an extensive investigation by the Oakland Police Department, defendant Harris was arrested on June 20, 2010. At the preliminary hearing, defendant Harris' ex-girlfriend provided text messages which confirmed the defendant's involvement in the shooting. As the case was pending trial, defendant Harris and his mother were recorded during hours of jail calls discussing the murder weapon, coordinating gang members to appear in court to intimidate witnesses, physical attacks by other gang members on the defendant's ex-girlfriend, and posting the witnesses statement on Facebook/Twitter so that she could be labeled a "snitch." The prosecutor was DDA Charles Wilson.
