– By Jim Emerson
RICHMOND, CA — Jabari A. Fontenot, 32, of Oakland, allegedly murdered a maintenance man during a
dispute involving a woman in Richmond.
Fontenot was arrested May 30 at 12:40 a.m. He remains in custody ineligible for release on bond, pending arraignment for murder on his June 9th birthday.
Richmond police responded to multiple gunshots in the Iron Triangle neighborhood on May 29, shortly
before 6:30 p.m. Gunfire was detected by ShotSpotter audio sensors and reported by 911 callers in
the vicinity.
Responding officers found the victim 64-year-old Kevin Murphy on the 200 block of West Nevin
Avenue. Murphy was mortally wounded suffering from gunshot wounds, bleeding and lying on the
pavement.
Murphy was pronounced dead at the scene, despite efforts to save his life. He died a short distance
from St. John’s Apartments, where he worked for more than 20 years. Investigators believe his fatal
shooting resulted from a personal dispute involving a woman at the apartment complex.
The suspect fled from the area driving eastbound. Richmond homicide detectives used a regional
network of cameras monitoring vehicle license plates to track the fleeing gunman. Concord police
stopped and detained Fontenot, and turned him over to Richmond police who made the arrest.
“Flock automated license-plate reader technology served as a critical investigative tool,” Richmond
police said in a prepared statement. “It helped investigators identify and arrest a homicide suspect
within approximately 8 hours of the shooting.”
Fontenot is presently housed at the Martinez Detention Facility. Fontenot is charged with murder PC
187(A), and intentional discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury PC 12022.53.
