Prosecutor Describes Fatal 2017 Emeryville Shooting As “An Execution,” Asks for Murder Conviction

April 5, 2019
1 min read

An Alameda County prosecutor is asking jurors to convict a man of first-degree murder for a 2017 double-shooting that left one man dead. The Emeryville shooting followed an arranged marijuana deal in the Target parking lot.

Cameron Smith, 23, of Oakland testified during his trial on Thursday that he acted in self-defense when he fatally shot 19-year-old Eondre Bolton of Richmond. The shooting occurred around the north-western corner of the parking lot and under the 40th/Shellmound Bridge shortly after 6 p.m. on December 4, 2017.

But prosecutor Butch Ford said in his closing argument that he thinks the shooting was “an execution.”


VIDEO: A man presumed to be Smith being led away in cuffs along Halleck Street by EPD officers.

Ford admitted that Bolton and his companion Maurice Hanks acted with provocation by trying to steal marijuana from Smith but he said Smith wasn’t in any danger when he fatally shot Bolton.

Ford said Bolton already had been shot multiple times and was fleeing for his life when Smith shot him in the back of his head and killed him. “When you chase somebody down, that’s first-degree murder,” Ford said.

Smith’s lawyer Christina Moore said in her opening statement in the trial that Smith feared for his life and shot Bolton in self-defense.


ADVERTISEMENT
[adrotate group="13"]

But Ford said Smith had a chance to leave the scene after Bolton and Hanks tried to rob him but chose to stay and kill Bolton because he was “on a mission” and “didn’t want to be a mark.”

Ford said the fatal shooting “was about his pride, his lifestyle” and Smith told police that his hobby was “to play the game.”

In addition to murder, Smith is charged with attempted murder for shooting Hanks, who survived his injuries, two counts of assault with a semiautomatic gun and shooting at an occupied vehicle.

Moore will present her closing argument when Smith’s trial resumes on Monday morning. After that Ford will present his rebuttal argument and the jury will begin deliberating.

A stray bullet from the shooting pierced a pull-up door and was found lodged in a wall near the stairs of a local business.

Never Miss a Story!

Subscribe to Emeryville’s only dedicated news source.

Bay City News Service

journalists work around the clock to report on breaking news, traffic, weather, disasters, public events, crime, courts, government decisions, newsmakers and the local issues that matter to the San Francisco Bay Area’s nearly 8 million residents. The company is independent and locally-owned, supported by subscribers.

Leave a Reply

Help support Local News for the Emeryville Community!

Receive a free item from our E'ville Threads Shop with your support (min. $5/mo. or $50/yr. one year commitment).

Prefer to subscribe via Apple Pay or Google Pay?


Subscribe by Email for Free

Never Miss a Story!

Subscribe to Emeryville’s only dedicated news source.


Tips, Ideas or Guest Posts?


Support Local News for the Emeryville Community and get free Merch!

Become a recurring E’ville Eye supporter for as little as $5 per month and get a FREE custom tee or cap (minimum one year commitment).

Support Hyperlocal News →

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Don't Miss