Photo: Jamal Thomas
OAKLAND — A man who allegedly shot his former neighbor to death last week is being held with bail denied. When he was arrested, the suspect was also booked for an outstanding warrant—for assaulting the victim last month. In February, he was arrested for threatening the victim.
The victim Miles Armstead, 44, was killed outside his recently vacated home, near Ney Avenue and 16th Street. Medics pronounced Armstead dead at the scene at approximately 2 p.m. on May 1.
Armstead had recently boarded up his home, and he and his family moved out. Armstead had returned to his property to do some yardwork when he was killed.
His suspected killer, 43-year-old Jamal Thomas was located and arrested about two miles away at 9:14 p.m. Thomas was taken into custody at the Holiday Motel, located at 4474 MacArthur Boulevard.
Thomas remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail, pending arraignment on May 8 for first degree murder. Thomas also faces charges for making criminal threats against the victim, stemming from a prior arrest on February 26.
However, Thomas was released from jail on February 28. Then on April 6th he allegedly threw a brick at the victim.
Consequently, Thomas had an outstanding warrant for assault with a deadly weapon likely to cause great bodily injury.
Thomas is also charged with vandalism for allegedly throwing rocks through the victim’s windows. He also has numerous prior unrelated arrests for illicit drugs and DUIs.
