Oakland police solved Christmas Eve murder, but prosecutors ruled killing was legal

OAKLAND — A Bay Area man arrested in connection with the December 24 murder has been charged with illegal gun possession, but prosecutors conclude the man he killed drew his weapon first. , court records show.

Craig Edmonds-Williams, 40, was charged with felony possession of a firearm. He did not file a petition at his recent February 15 court hearing and has not been detained while his charges are pending, records show.

Authorities announced that just 20 minutes before midnight on Christmas Day 2022, Edmonds Williams Shot and killed 33-year-old Bobby Hale At gas stations on 102nd Avenue and International Boulevard. However, according to court records, police determined that Hale had assaulted a female friend of Edmonds-Williams and Hale pulled out a gun first and aimed it at Edmonds-Williams.

Surveillance footage shows Edmonds-Williams retreating and firing back with his pistol before getting into the woman’s Hyundai and driving away, police said. Police say they identified Edmonds Williams from the footage. He was arrested in San Francisco on January 31, court records show.

Edmonds-Williams has had felony convictions, including a 2015 solicitation of a minor conviction in Santa Clara County and a 2011 robbery conviction in Alameda County, and was found guilty of possession of a gun. is prohibited.