Two convicted robbers were charged Friday for their roles in the death of a man who died after trying to retrieve his laptop computer, which was stolen Tuesday while he worked in a coffee shop in Oakland’s Montclair district.
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office charged Byron OJ Reed Jr., 22, of San Francisco, with murder and the special circumstance of committing a murder during a robbery.
Javon Lee, 21, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and both men were charged with second-degree robbery.
The robbery in the 2000 block of Mountain Boulevard, shortly after 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, ultimately claimed the life of 34-year-old Shuo Zeng.
He was taken to a local hospital to be treated for his injuries but died there a short time later, according to police.
According to Zeng’s Linkedin profile, he was a native of China, graduated with a degree in physics from Sichuan University and got a doctorate at Kansas State University.
Zeng’s profile indicated that he moved to the Bay Area in 2015 to work for Aspera, an IBM company in Emeryville, as a research scientist and engineer.
Reed and Lee are scheduled to be arraigned at the Wiley Manuel Courthouse in Oakland at 2 p.m. Friday.
Surveillance video shows two individuals snatching a laptop from Zeng and then fleeing into a waiting vehicle, Oakland police Officer Gerald Moriarty wrote in a probable cause statement.
Zeng chased the suspects to their getaway vehicle and a struggle ensued but he was hit by the vehicle and ultimately succumbed to his injuries, according to Moriarty.
Witness statements and a review of surveillance camera footage indicated that Lee was one of the people involved in taking Zeng’s laptop and his actions facilitated the robbery and murder, Moriarty wrote.
Witness statements and surveillance footage also showed that Reed was the driver of the getaway vehicle, Moriarty said.
Reed and Lee were arrested in the 9400 block of MacArthur Boulevard in Oakland at 4 p.m. Tuesday, according to police.
Alameda County prosecutors say Reed was convicted of second-degree robbery in San Francisco on Nov. 22, 2017, and Lee was convicted of second-degree robbery in San Francisco on Feb. 27, 2017.
31 comments
A long time ago, my father-in-law took a trip to China and carelessly left his camera somewhere. The camera reappeared practically immediately, delivered right to his room, and he was astonished, but delighted. It’s easy to see how difficult it would be for someone from that culture to stomach the current situation here. The victim could not sit by and just do nothing, allowing his property to disappear forever. Unfortunately, it cost him his life.
Terrible tragedy, that someone died over the theft of a laptop. Given how common these coffee-shop laptop thefts are, people should strongly consider getting cable locks to secure a laptop to a table, chair or some other fixture. These kind of locks aren’t that expensive. If you are going to work on a computer at a coffee-shop do not sit near a door, and try to maintain awareness of your surroundings.
Zeng was working on his laptop IN the coffee shop. He was not a coffee shop employee.
Chop off their hands. We need to start doing this to these thieves, then maybe they will learn when their friends all have no hands, and it will start to be less of an issue. Could add castration to this list as well.
Probably the only Sharia policy I agree with
You got it ALL wrong. He was working (at a table doing research), in the coffee shop, not working (as a barista) at the coffee shop.
And it was not unattended. The article says, “snatching a laptop from Zeng”, so I assume he was sitting there, minding his own business, when he was robbed. RIP Dr. Zeng. I hope justice is served.
I’m pretty sure he was working on his laptop, as a coffee shop patron, not an employee. I often work at a coffee shop, but not *for* one.
Enter john “screw the public” burris.
I think he was at the coffee shop working on his laptop
Not as a barista.
It’s really sad how our society excepts the fact that these thefts are common now. Mabey we should look at how our state has a catch and release policy when it comes to criminals . We don’t want to put them in jail where they belong so they turn them back out on the street to do more harm to law abiding citizens. Until somebody gets killed .
We must stop accepting this kind of behavior. No more, “that’s how it is now” . If we don’t stop it now, society is in for a rude awakening.
The #1 responsibiity of government is supposed to be the protection of our citizens! Clearly our CA politicians have other ideas! Not surprising given out Governor has no problem going against the will of the voting public if it doesn’t fit his agenda!
demifornia sanctuary policy in effect
now someone died as a direct result
where are the pro prop 47 legal theft voters now
come show us your spin on why this law is just
the crime will increase as this incident will only spur more theft as local DA’s supporting the theft laws will pander down the crime to a misunderstanding ….rather than sanctuary democrats feasting on hard working people and their lives
for shame voters ….this is your fault as more are to come ….
cant wait for the pro sanctuary comments
While I am dead set against the sanctuary city garbage, this case has nothing to do with it. The suspects do not appear to be here illegally. Let’s keep that argument where it belongs. Using it when it’s not justified simply waters down the argument.
And they were both free already
Just tired of those who think stealing the property of others is not a serious crime. So tired of all these low lifes: laptop robbers, vehicle smash and grabbers, porch package pirates, home invasions, department store thieves, etc. They are criminals. We should reinstate the 3 strikes law!
Horrible shame. Completely innocent victim who had every right to be there with his personal property and the expectation to be unmolested. Punks were 100% responsible for his death and (especially as previous felons) deserve severe punishment.
I lost a friend similarly in Oakland a couple of years ago. He was a songwriter and musician working on his laptop outside a cafe. He gave chase trying to retrieve it, he a lot of work in it. He ended up dragged under their car a good distance, and didn’t survive long afterward..
It may be important stuff, but at the end of the day it’s still only stuff. Just let it go.
We must not except this kind of behavior. Lock them up.
These guys thought they be gettin’ a computer. Now they be gettin’ a murder/manslaughter charge, and they don’t even get to keep the computer.
It’s really sad that young man had to die. Perhaps a light bulb will go on for those two punks that crime doesn’t pay, and maybe there is a more productive and less risky way to make a living. We know they learn slow, but perhaps they learn……..
Convicted robbers on parole. What could possibly go wrong?
I am old school all the way on this. Repeal prop 47 immediately. Without true punishment that sticks and cannot be reduced or changed we in California are only seeing the tip of the iceberg.
Stop voting these fools into office and read all voting materials carefully.
Exactly! Both were CONVICTED of robbery in 2017 and are back out on the streets robbing and killing people in 2019. Great job California voters! While the blame for this persons death is clearly on the backs of the slugs involved, the CA voters are also complicit. You voted the people in that are removing any deterence to commiting crime in this state. Crime Pays In CA! The benefit of commiting robbery in CA outweighs the penalty. THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE! WAKE UP!!!
Reed’s sister said of her brother-“It hurts, it’s not fair, he doesn’t deserve that” during bail hearing. Tell that to the victims family who are flying from China to claim the body.
Sister said her brother was watching her kid at the time of the murder. That’s not what the video shows. She should also be charged for making a false statement to the investigators.
just sickening…. maybe CPS should investigate her for leaving her child with a known violent felon????
She needs to blame her parents and the community for raising a crappy kid that kills.
With all of our news sources like newspapers and TV news being liberal we have no chance for a return to law and order. Common sense is out the window. If you go to a coffee shop with a laptop make sure it is chained to your waist. Carry a gun. It will only get worse around the Bay Area.
Salty here..
The apple doesnt fall far from the tree.. No family morals. Didn’t she also mention having several kids with none of the kids fathers around.. that’s a real stable family. Once again. No morals or values. Hey Miss Reed.. Maybe try going to church..
Salty Out!!
Too busy ‘community organizing’.
I suspect that this is considered a respectable way to make a living in the communities they come from.
I was surprised by the comments of relatives after the Orinda massacre: “This was a careless act,” “I don’t like it and I don’t agree with it.” Assuming they really were talking about the event that injured or killed their own relatives, isn’t the lack of outrage remarkable?
I was robbed at a dinner party years ago (during a Republican administration). The guy’s relatives seemed to think it was our fault. What did we expect, a bunch of white mostly women eating dinner?
HANG THE MOFO’S.
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