Lil Theze, a rapper from Vallejo, CA, was shot and killed by a retired police captain after a robbery attempt at an Oakland gas station. His age and birth name have not been disclosed.
According to Times-Herald, Ersie Joyner III (the retired officer and former head of Oakland police’s Ceasefire anti-violence initiative) was pumping gas on Thursday (Oct. 21) just after 1 p.m. PT when three suspects approached in a black sedan and attempted to rob him at gunpoint. Surveillance footage from the shooting reveals that Joyner allowed the men to enter his vehicle before obtaining his own firearm.
Lil Theze was pronounced dead on the scene. His identity was initially withheld pending confirmation of next-of-kin notification. Joyner suffered from gunshot wounds and was taken to a hospital, according to a police statement. Joyner led the anti-violence initiative from 2013 until his retirement as captain in 2019. The initiative worked to contact residents vulnerable to crime and violence and provide services.
At a press conference, Oakland police Chief LeRonne Armstrong expressed that Joyner was in stable, but serious condition. Law enforcement also obtained surveillance footage at the scene (below) and it’s being used as key evidence in the investigation for the black sedan and finding the other individuals involved.
#DevelopingNews Here’s security camera video of the fatal shootout in Downtown Oakland.
Detectives say 3 men try to rob retired Oakland Police Captain Ersie Joyner near downtown.
After a struggle, shots are exchanged. Joyner fatally hits one man, then he is shot multiple times. pic.twitter.com/UMtqj6I0rv
— Sergio Quintana (@svqjournalist) October 22, 2021