Arrests Made in Slaying of Oakland Reporter

Police said they arrested several individuals in connection with the death of Oakland journalist Chauncey Bailey after a raid of the Your Black Muslim Bakery and two Oakland residences Friday.

Bailey, 57, a world-traveled journalist who had recently become editor in chief of the Oakland Post, which circulates in Berkeley, was gunned down at approximately 7:30 a.m. on Thursday near the intersection of 14th and Alice streets in Oakland, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene, just three blocks from the Post’s Oakland headquarters.

The Oakland Tribune reported Saturday that 19-year-old Devaughdre Broussard confessed to killing Bailey, telling police he killed him for writing what he believed were negative articles about the bakery, where he worked.

Police said they would not reveal specifics of the shooting, but said multiple shots were fired.

Bailey is survived by a 13-year-old son.

Bailey, who previously worked at the Oakland Tribune, was an advocate in the black community and a devoted father, said Oakland Post staff writer Sue Taylor.

“Chauncey contributed so much to the fabric of our community, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends,” House Rep. Barbara Lee, whose district includes Oakland, said in a statement.

At a press conference Friday, Oakland police said they uncovered evidence linking Thursday’s slaying to the Your Black Muslim Bakery, located at 5832 San Pablo Avenue in Oakland, near the Berkeley border.

“We have scientific evidence that links the firearms to the murder of Chauncey Bailey,” said Oakland Deputy police Chief Howard Jordan.

Evidence found in the raid was also linked to the killings of Odell Roberson and Michael Wills that occurred in North Oakland near the bakery in early July, said Oakland police Lt. Ersie Joyner.

“(They) were both gunned down in the vicinity of the bakery six days apart,” Joyner said.

Joyner said that police had found more than 100 spent 7.62 millimeter caliber bullet casings inside the Your Black Muslim Bakery. As of Friday, Oakland public health officials had closed the bakery due to unsanitary conditions, police said.

Police said they found in the raid the weapons used in a non-injury shooting in December 2006 and linked them to the homicides, Joyner said.

In addition, the raid uncovered evidence linked to two May 19 kidnappings in East Oakland, Jordan said.

“We’re pretty confident that we have the people we want to look at in custody,” Joyner said. “All the facts led back to the individuals from the Your Black Muslim Bakery.”

Taylor said that Bailey had been working on a piece about the Black Muslim community.

Bailey’s slaying did not impact the timing of the raid, police said. Oakland police department resources were “stretched thin,” and the department was working in conjunction with other Bay Area law enforcement agencies to coordinate Friday’s arrests, Jordan said.

“At no time were we ever aware of any problems between Mr. Bailey and Your Black Muslim Bakery,” Jordan said.

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