OAKLAND — An ex-convict has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting last week of a man at a West Oakland homeless camp, a killing that was captured on surveillance video, according to court records and authorities.
Frank Kennedy, 23, who authorities said tried to alter his appearance after the killing, is charged in the fatal shooting of Robert Tuck III, 33.
Besides murder, Kennedy is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm in a city, and carrying a concealed firearm within a vehicle. There is also a special allegation in the complaint that Kennedy, a convicted robber, was on parole when the killing happened.
The shooting happened just before 7:30 a.m. Feb. 15 at the camp in the 2500 block of Wood Street, where Kennedy was living. Authorities said Tuck was a transient who lived at another camp and had stopped by the camp. The two men did not know each other, authorities said.
The two men got into an argument that ended with Tuck being shot. He died at the scene. The shooting was captured on a video surveillance camera in the area, which helped to Kennedy being identified as the suspect, the documents say.
Kennedy was seen later in the day trying to hide in his camp tent. The documents say the video showed he had dreadlocks when the shooting happened but did not when he was arrested. A search warrant served at his tent later led to the recovery of the shorn dreadlocks that had been put in a bag.
According to court records, Kennedy’s robbery conviction was in March 2015 and resulted in a prison term. He is being held without bail and is scheduled to enter a plea Feb. 27.