By Harry Harris and Sean Maher
The Contra Costa Times
OAKLAND, Calif. — A man suspected of shooting at two police officers Saturday night had been released from federal prison two weeks ago and is associated with a North Oakland gang targeted by the city in a court injunction, authorities said Sunday.
Investigators said the suspected gunman, Benny Ray Martin Jr., 31, of Oakland, has admitted shooting at the officers, who were not hurt, and at another car, saying he was upset over personal issues. He also said he did not want to go back to prison.
Another man, Anthony Perry, 20, also of Oakland, was arrested for trying to drive Martin away from the scene, police said.
Investigators said police received reports of a man shooting at a car in the area of 58th and Genoa streets about 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Police said Martin was the gunman and had been shooting at a car driven by someone he knows.
Two problem-solving officers were in the area and responded to the shooting. PSOs, as these officers are known, usually work with residents on quality-of-life and minor crime issues but will also respond to crime-in-progress calls like the one Saturday.
As the officers were driving in the 800 block of 59th Street in a marked police car, they came upon Martin, who began shooting at them, Officer Jason Andersen said. The car was hit at least once by gunfire, but the officers were not hurt and did not return fire. The gunman fled on foot.
The officers radioed for help, and dozens of police from all over the city responded and set up a perimeter, closing down several streets.
A short time later, a green Buick with two men inside tried to drive away from the area, but it was stopped by police in the 5800 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Way.
Perry was driving and Martin was a passenger. Both were arrested.
Police traced Martin’s escape route; in a backyard on 58th Street, they found the semi-automatic pistol Martin is thought to have used in both shootings as well as ammunition. In another yard, more ammunition and a baseball cap that Martin was said to have worn during the shootings also were found, police said. The two officers who were shot at identified Martin as the gunman.
Police said Martin was released two weeks ago from federal prison in Nevada, where he had served a five-year term for a weapons conviction. He also is on probation for a drug sales conviction and has prior convictions for robbery and selling drugs, authorities confirmed.
Police said Martin is a suspected member of the Bushrod gang, which is associated with the North Side Oakland gang. In June, the Oakland city attorney won an injunction against 15 members of the North Side Oakland gang in an effort to suppress crime. Martin is not named in the injunction, since he was in prison when the injunction was obtained, officials said.
Perry is on parole for a weapons conviction, authorities confirmed.
Martin was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer and violating probation. Perry was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer, being an accessory and violating parole.
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