Authorities have identified Melvin Murphy, 64, as the victim of a fatal shooting on Fri., May 29 in the Iron Triangle.
Richmond police said Murphy, referred to by loved ones on social media as “Uncle Smurf,” or “Papa Smurf,” was shot and killed just before 6:30 p.m. near the 200 block of West Nevin Avenue, north of the St. John’s Apartments, where sources said he was a maintenance person. He died at the scene.
Authorities said Flock license-plate readers helped them quickly locate and arrest a suspect, 31-year-old Jabari Fontenot, in Concord that night.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office charged Fontenot with murder on Tuesday, according to court records. He is expected to be arraigned in Martinez this afternoon.
Although police have not released a motive in the shooting, residents of St. John’s Apartments and law enforcement sources who did not wish to be identified told Richmondside that a dispute involving a woman who lives there may have led to it.
According to news and social media reports, Murphy was a 49ers fan known around the neighborhood as a “humble man” who constantly looked out for his community, often handing out ice cream and popsicles to local kids.
