OAKLAND — Two suspects have been arrested, and later released without charges, in an early morning shootout that killed a Bay Area resident who managed a well-known cannabis dispensary branch.
The suspects, men aged 22 and 36, appear to have been on the same side of a Sept. 9 shootout in Oakland, which started when they allegedly opened fire at a Kia sedan around 3 a.m. on the 1700 block of San Pablo Avenue. At least one person in the Kia returned fire.
John “Mica” Esquibell, 28, was shot and killed during the gunfire exchange. Police have described Esquibell as an innocent bystander who wasn’t involved in the conflict. An online fundraiser says Esquibell worked for the popular marijuana dispensary chain called Stiiizy as a manager.
The 22-year-old man later checked into a hospital at Walnut Creek with a gunshot wound to his leg. So did a 19-year-old man, also apparently wounded during the shootout, authorities said.
No charges have yet been filed against any of the three men. The 36-year-old man was arrested this month by the Alameda County Sheriff’s office, records show. The 22-year-old man was arrested last month in San Francisco.
At the time of the shootout, the 36-year-old man was awaiting sentencing in a shooting case, stemming from an innocent when he and two women were shot in Oakland. In that incident, the mother of the man’s children allegedly shot him as he attempted to reach for the gun.
The man pleaded no contest to a gun possession offense and assault charges were dropped, court records show. He was released after pleading no contest, with a judge warning him he could receive a stiffer penalty if he didn’t stay out of trouble. He is scheduled to be formally sentenced to a year in jail and probation in early November, records show.
An online fundraiser by Stiiizy praises Esquibell as a leader who focused on “people,” not numbers.
“They led by example and were constantly building up the next generation of leaders. Though many of us only knew Mica in a professional capacity, their kindness and commitment to improving the lives of others were a constant and inspiring presence,” the online fundraiser says.
Anyone with information about any of the shootings may call homicide investigators at 510-238-3821 or 510-238-7950. Anyone with pictures or videos that might assist in the investigations may e-mail them to [email protected].