OAKLAND — Police here have arrested a suspect in a 2023 homicide, where the 22-year-old victim was reportedly shot in front of his 3-month-old son.
Last December, prosecutors charged 21-year-old Matthew John with murdering his acquaintance, 22-year-old Joshua Hopkins, on Feb. 22, 2023. But John was not arrested until Feb. 6, and is now being held at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin without bail, records show.
Hopkins was shot and killed on the 2200 block of Seminary Avenue, at a second-floor apartment there. He was arguing with his killer just before the shooting, then stumbled outside and collapsed on the sidewalk, where he was later pronounced dead, authorities said.
Police said at the time that both Hopkins and his killer may have been visiting Hopkin’s ex-girlfriend, who lived in the area. An online fundraiser for Hopkins says his 3-month-old son was present and saw the shooting.
Hopkins was killed just weeks after John was charged — along with two others — with holding up a Berkeley jewelry store and stealing $98,000 in the violent takeover robbery. He had a court appearance scheduled for Feb. 6, but the exact location of his arrest is unknown.
In the robbery case, police say three men targeted the 14 Karats jewelry store on the 2900 block of College Avenue in Berkeley on Jan. 24, 2023. One man pointed a gun at the owner while two others smashed cases and grabbed jewelry. They fled in an Audi after the robbery.
During the course of the investigation, detectives came across evidence that John and Hopkins were acquainted. Specifically, they found an Instagram picture taken in Oakland where the two men, and others, were posing with firearms, according to court records.
John has not yet entered a plea, according to court records.