OAKLAND, Calif. -- For the first time Thursday, the two young men accused in the random Oakland beating of a 57-year-old man and his son that turned deadly appeared in court to face murder charges.
As two suspects made their initial court appearance, the family of the victim offered words of comfort for the families of the accused.
Family and friends of the victim and the suspects crowded the hallways outside the Oakland courtroom.
Inside, 18-year-old suspects Lavonte Drummer and Dominic Davis were formally charged with murder in what investigators characterized as an unprovoked attack.
Police said the suspects first punched 27-year-old Jin Cheng Yu and then punched 59-year-old Tian Cheng Yu, knocking him to the ground in what proved to be a deadly attack.
Thursday his widow was in court.
“Of course, I’m hoping for justice,” said Zhi Rui Yu in Mandarin through a translator.
On Thursday the family and friends of the two suspects did not want to talk on camera. The Yu family said they understand their pain.
“Their hearts are also going to the family of these young men, because it's going to be difficult for their families as well,” said Carl Chan of the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, who was serving as a spokesman for the family.
Thursday, the district attorney's office released a timeline of events that indicated the younger Yu was struck first and that the elder Yu went to confront the two young men.
Prosecutors said that was when both young men punched Tian Cheng Yu, knocking him to the ground where he struck his head hard.
Prosecutors said the whole attack was recorded by a nearby video camera.
Oakland police released part of that video to help identify the suspects. Police Chief Anthony Batts attended the hearing.
”I think there's a lot of sensitivity in this community about this event,” said Chief Batts. “I wanted to be here in support.”
Prosecutors will not be filing hate crime charges against the suspects and said Drummer and Davis denied the attack was racially motivated.
Family members of the victim said they want to see justice, not vengeance.
“The true justice is no more violence to anyone, any family,” said Zhi Rui Yu through a translator.
Both suspects were due back in court Friday when they are expected to enter a plea.
hope both there mother fuckers rot killin a father for no reason
As two suspects made their initial court appearance, the family of the victim offered words of comfort for the families of the accused.
Family and friends of the victim and the suspects crowded the hallways outside the Oakland courtroom.
Inside, 18-year-old suspects Lavonte Drummer and Dominic Davis were formally charged with murder in what investigators characterized as an unprovoked attack.
Police said the suspects first punched 27-year-old Jin Cheng Yu and then punched 59-year-old Tian Cheng Yu, knocking him to the ground in what proved to be a deadly attack.
Thursday his widow was in court.
“Of course, I’m hoping for justice,” said Zhi Rui Yu in Mandarin through a translator.
On Thursday the family and friends of the two suspects did not want to talk on camera. The Yu family said they understand their pain.
“Their hearts are also going to the family of these young men, because it's going to be difficult for their families as well,” said Carl Chan of the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, who was serving as a spokesman for the family.
Thursday, the district attorney's office released a timeline of events that indicated the younger Yu was struck first and that the elder Yu went to confront the two young men.
Prosecutors said that was when both young men punched Tian Cheng Yu, knocking him to the ground where he struck his head hard.
Prosecutors said the whole attack was recorded by a nearby video camera.
Oakland police released part of that video to help identify the suspects. Police Chief Anthony Batts attended the hearing.
”I think there's a lot of sensitivity in this community about this event,” said Chief Batts. “I wanted to be here in support.”
Prosecutors will not be filing hate crime charges against the suspects and said Drummer and Davis denied the attack was racially motivated.
Family members of the victim said they want to see justice, not vengeance.
“The true justice is no more violence to anyone, any family,” said Zhi Rui Yu through a translator.
Both suspects were due back in court Friday when they are expected to enter a plea.
hope both there mother fuckers rot killin a father for no reason
