By Jim Emerson
EL CERRITO — A shooting injured a 56-year-old transient who is well known to law enforcement.
William Nidever, was allegedly burglarizing a home when a resident shot him.
The shooting occurred October 8 on the 1800 block of Elm Street. El Cerrito police responded at
10:30 a.m. Officers found Nidever suffering from two shotgun wounds. He was airlifted to a hospital
trauma center for medical treatment.
The shooting happened near Summit K2 Charter School, which is located on the same street.
Kensington and Richmond police helped El Cerrito officers secure the area. The school was placed
under lockdown as a precaution.
It seems the resident mistakenly believed that an intruder was armed. El Cerrito police said in a
prepared statement, “Our investigation indicates that the resident shot William Nidever after he
unlawfully entered the home. The El Cerrito Police Department intends to present a criminal case for
burglary once Nidever recovers.”
Nidever has been arrested seven times this year for various crimes. He was arrested four times in
September for drug possession, burglary, false imprisonment by violence, and other offenses. He was
arrested in August for burglary and tampering with a vehicle. Nidever was arrested twice in January for
burglary and tampering with a vehicle.
In 2023, Nidever was arrested 11 times for robbery, possession of controlled substances, among other
offenses. He was arrested 12 times in 2022 for arson, burglary and drug possession.
