- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Clearlake Police Department makes arrest in November 2016 murder case
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Authorities said that an Oakland man has been arrested for a November 2016 murder in Clearlake.
David Alex Ward, 30, was taken into custody on Monday for the murder of 24-year-old Brandon McAfee, according to a report from Clearlake Police Sgt. Elvis Cook, who has led the investigation.
According to the original police report, McAfee – along with several other individuals – had been at a friend’s residence in the 14200 block of Uhl Avenue on Nov. 25, 2016, when two men arrived at the home.
The witnesses described the assailants as one white man and one black man, the latter having brandished a black semi-automatic firearm at the people at the home before entering the residence and instructing the victims to get on the ground, as Lake County News has reported.
Police said one of the people being held at gunpoint refused to comply with the demands to get on the ground and a struggle ensued with the armed man.
It was during that struggle that the firearm was discharged several times and McAfee was shot in the chest. The assailants then fled in a black-colored sedan-type vehicle, police said.
McAfee’s friends drove him to Adventist Health Clear Lake Hospital, where police were first dispatched to the report of a gunshot victim. Police said McAfee died before officers arrived.
At the time of McAfee’s murder, police said the motive was unclear.
However, Sgt. Cook’s investigation has since concluded that the altercation was over a marijuana transaction.
Over the past year, Cook investigated the homicide, collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses.
After the lengthy investigation, there was enough evidence to issue a warrant for Ward's arrest, Cook said.
Cook said Ward was arrested on Monday in Alameda County and transported back to Lake County, where he was booked into the Lake County Jail on a felony arrest warrant.
Ward, who was on post release community supervision on weapon-related charges, is being charged with murder, attempted robbery, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and assault with a deadly weapon, Cook said.
Ward is being held without bail, based on jail records.
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