On May 26, 2023, 34-year-old Dexter Appleby was fatally shot near San Pablo Avenue and 41st Street in Emeryville, California. Appleby lived in North Oakland’s Gaskill neighborhood and was a 2007 graduate of Oakland Technical High School. The city recorded this as its first homicide since 2017.

Records show Appleby had an extensive arrest history between 2014 and 2023, with more than 40 arrests for charges including grand theft, firearm possession, and battery. He was linked to the North Side Oakland (NSO) street gang and was named in a 2010 gang injunction. In the days before his death he was arrested by Oakland police on May 21, 2023, for receiving a stolen motor vehicle.

Emeryville police have sought public help identifying people connected to the shooting. In August 2023 they named 40-year-old Oakland resident Ryan Belser as a person of interest; he was located, questioned, and released. Investigators later released surveillance footage of another person of interest seen walking near the scene in dark clothing and a beanie. No arrests have been announced and the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Emeryville Police Department at (510) 596-3700.

Did anyone in the community see the person in the surveillance footage or have information about the shooting?