Photo of shooting victim Michael Bailey used with permission.
Previously: Bayview Shooting Victim Identified, Was Visiting From Louisana, No Charges Yet For Woman Arrested After Fatal Tourist Shooting
12/24 11:39 AM: Three more suspects pleaded not guilty this morning in San Francisco Superior Court to charges relating to the October murder of a tourist from Louisiana.
Five people, including two women, were arrested this week for the killing of 26-year-old Michael Bailey during a robbery in a Bayview District public housing complex in the early morning hours of Oct. 4.
William Jones, 21, of San Francisco, the suspected gunman, was arraigned Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, conspiracy to commit robbery, assault with a firearm, robbery and firearms possession. Attached to the charges are allegations the crimes were committed in furtherance of a criminal street gang.
A 17 year-old boy also taken into custody this week is expected to be arraigned on murder, conspiracy and robbery charges on Monday.
Police arrested Arieal Kittles, 21, and Lance Molina, 23, late Wednesday night in Antioch.
Both Kittles–who is suspected of luring Bailey and two of his friends to the neighborhood after meeting them in a South of Market District nightclub earlier that night–and Molina pleaded not guilty today to murder, conspiracy and robbery.
A second woman, 30-year-old Kenya Moore, pleaded not guilty to a single charge of being an accessory after the fact to murder, with a gang allegation. She is accused of driving Kittles, Jones and Molina away from the scene of the killing.
Jones is additionally facing a special circumstances allegation for his murder charge, that it was committed during a robbery. The allegation brings the possibility of the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole if he is convicted.
Jones, Kittles and Molina are each being held on $10 million bail.
Moore’s bail is set at $100,000. Her attorney’s request today to release her on her own recognizance was denied by Judge Bruce Chan.
The attorney argued there was “no foundation” for the gang allegations against Moore, and that she was a lifelong San Franciscan who was not a threat to the community, was not a flight risk, and was caring for her two children.
Prosecutor Eric Fleming pointed out that Moore had multiple previous criminal convictions, including for theft and lying to police.
Fleming said Moore allegedly lied to police about her role in this case.
Kittles’ attorney, Kenneth Quigley, said outside the courtroom today that he had just met his client and was still waiting to review evidence in the case.
“She seems like a nice young lady who’s very scared,” Quigley said.
Bailey, of Baton Rouge, La., was a married father of three and a senior studying electrical engineering Southern University, and was vacationing in San Francisco at the time.
Prosecutors believe Bailey and two of his friends, one also from Louisiana, met Kittles at the City Nights nightclub at 715 Harrison Street. She reportedly told them she had lost her car keys inside the club and the men agreed to give her a ride home in their rental car.
Instead, she allegedly directed them to Doublerock Street in the Alice Griffith housing project, an area notorious for gang activity.
After Kittles left the vehicle, a gunman approached and ordered the men out of the car and onto the ground, according to police.
About 10 others, including juveniles, then ran up and rifled through the victims’ pockets.
The gunman then allegedly struck one of Bailey’s companions in the head with the gun.
Bailey stood up to help, words were exchanged, and Bailey was shot in the head and killed, police and prosecutors said.
12/24 1:28 AM: Two suspects sought by police in connection with the October murder of a tourist from Louisiana were arrested late Wednesday, police said.
San Francisco police Sgt. Wilfred Williams said Lance Molina, 23, and Arieal Kittles, 21, were arrested Wednesday night in Antioch.
The two suspects and three others are facing murder, conspiracy, robbery and gang charges for the murder of 26-year-old Michael Bailey, of Baton Rouge, La.
William Jones, of San Francisco, was arrested Tuesday and arraigned Wednesday morning in San Francisco Superior Court.
Kenya Moore, 30, and a 17-year-old boy are in police custody and are scheduled to be arraigned Monday. Moore is charged with being an accessory to the murder and the juvenile is charged with murder, conspiracy, three counts of robbery and gang charges, according to the district attorney’s office.
Bailey, a husband and father of three who was studying electrical engineering at Southern University, was visiting the Bay Area at the time of his murder.
Prosecutors believe Bailey and two of his friends met a young woman at a nightclub who lured them to the Alice Griffith housing project in the city’s Bayview District early the morning of Oct. 4.
At about 3:30 a.m., a group of people ambushed the men on Doublerock Street in the housing development, robbing them of cash, jewelry and cell phones.
During the ambush, Bailey was shot in the head and killed. Prosecutor Eric Fleming said today that “direct evidence” points to Jones as the shooter. He declined to elaborate.
Jones, who is now in custody on $10 million bail, pleaded not guilty to one count of murder with the special-circumstance allegation the murder was committed during a robbery.
The allegation makes Jones eligible for the death penalty or life in prison without parole if convicted.
Jones also pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit robbery, three counts of robbery, two counts of assault with a firearm and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Attached to all the charges are allegations that the crimes were committed in furtherance of a gang.
Jones is due back in court on Monday for further proceedings.
12/23 10:19 PM: San Francisco prosecutors announced today five people are being charged in connection with the October murder of a tourist from Louisiana.
William Jones, of San Francisco, was arrested Tuesday and arraigned this morning in San Francisco Superior Court for the murder of 26-year-old Michael Bailey, of Baton Rouge, La.
Kenya Moore, 30, and a 17-year-old boy are in police custody and are scheduled to be arraigned Monday. Moore is charged with being an accessory to the murder and the juvenile is charged with murder, conspiracy, three counts of robbery and gang charges, according to the district attorney’s office.
Two other suspects, Arieal Kittles, 21, and Lance M. Molina, 23, are still being sought on a murder warrant and also face murder, conspiracy, robbery and gang charges.
Bailey, a husband and father of three who was studying electrical engineering at Southern University, was visiting the Bay Area at the time of his murder.
Prosecutors believe Bailey and two of his friends met a young woman at a nightclub who lured them to the Alice Griffith housing project in the city’s Bayview District early the morning of Oct. 4.
At about 3:30 a.m., a group of people ambushed the men on Doublerock Street in the housing development, robbing them of cash, jewelry and cell phones.
During the ambush, Bailey was shot in the head and killed.
Prosecutor Eric Fleming said today that “direct evidence” points to Jones as the shooter. He declined to elaborate.
Jones, who is now in custody on $10 million bail, pleaded not guilty to one count of murder with the special-circumstance allegation the murder was committed during a robbery.
The allegation makes Jones eligible for the death penalty or life in prison without parole if convicted.
Jones also pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit robbery, three counts of robbery, two counts of assault with a firearm and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Attached to all the charges are allegations that the crimes were committed in furtherance of a gang.
Jones is due back in court on Monday for further proceedings.
12/23 11:30 AM: A 21-year-old alleged gang member has been arrested and charged with the October murder of a tourist from Louisiana.
William Jones, of San Francisco, was arrested Tuesday and arraigned this morning in San Francisco Superior Court for the murder of 26-year-old Michael Bailey, of Baton Rouge, La.
Bailey, a Southern University senior who was majoring in electrical engineering, was visiting the Bay Area at the time.
Prosecutors believe Bailey and two of his friends met a young woman at a nightclub who lured them to the Alice Griffith housing project in the city’s Bayview District early the morning of Oct. 4.
At about 3:30 a.m., several people ambushed the men on Doublerock Street in the housing development, robbing them of cash, jewelry and cell phones.
During the ambush, Bailey was shot in the head and killed.
Prosecutor Eric Fleming said today that “direct evidence” points to Jones as the shooter. He declined to elaborate.
Jones, who is now in custody on $10 million bail, pleaded not guilty to one count of murder with the special-circumstance allegation the murder was committed during a robbery.
The allegation makes Jones eligible for the death penalty or life in prison without parole if convicted.
Jones also pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit robbery, three counts of robbery, two counts of assault with a firearm and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Attached to all the charges are allegations that the crimes were committed in furtherance of a gang.
Jones is due back in court on Monday for further proceedings.
Fleming said Bailey and two male friends met the 21-year-old woman at the City Nights nightclub on Harrison Street in the city’s South of Market District earlier that night.
The woman told them she had lost her car keys and the men offered her a ride home, Fleming said.
Instead, she allegedly directed them to Doublerock Street, an area notorious for gang activity, Fleming said.
After the woman left the car and went inside a home there, a man came up to Bailey’s car, brandished a gun and ordered everyone out and onto the ground, according to police.
Several other suspects, including juveniles, then ran up and rifled through the men’s pockets.
Police said words were exchanged between Bailey and the gunman, and Bailey was shot.
The suspects then scattered. Bailey’s friends were able to pull him back into the car and flag down police officers, but Bailey died at the hospital a short time later.
Fleming said today that a 17-year-old boy has also been taken into custody for the murder, and is being held at juvenile hall.
Murder warrants have been issued for the woman–who was arrested two days after the murder but then released due to lack of evidence–and two other male suspects.
