OAKLAND — The suspect in the July 4th killing of a local father was a guest at the victim’s party, who noticeably began to act erratically before he pulled out a gun, authorities said.
Now, 40-year-old Dwane Wesley Stewart has been charged with murdering 37-year-old Tim Conover a few minutes after midnight on July 5th. Police say they had little trouble identifying Stewart, who was known to other party guests. Jail records show he was arrested the day after the shooting.
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Conover was hosting the party on the 800 block of 41st Street near West Street in Oakland, police said. A GoFundMe page by the mother of his two children describes him as a “remarkable man” who “embodied unconditional love.”
“He lived selflessly, always putting his family and community first. Tim was the kind of person who would give without hesitation and show up when it mattered most,” the page says, later adding, “At school events, he was affectionately known as the ‘Master Griller’ — a title that spoke not just to his cooking skills, but to his joyful spirit and presence.”
Police have not released a motive but say that other guests at the party noticed that Stewart was acting erratically and that Conover may have been trying to calm him down. Media reports allege that Stewart had urinated onto the home’s living room floor.
Video surveillance depicting the shooting shows Conover and Stewart engage in a struggle and fall to the ground. At some point, Stewart allegedly pulled a pistol and shot Conover, then stood over him and fired repeatedly, authorities allege.
Stewart then ran from the area, and was again noticed by an eyewitness, police said.
Stewart is being held without bail at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. He is scheduled to enter a plea on Wednesday morning, court records show.