Ex-Felon Convicted of Second-Degree Murder in 2010 San Leandro Shooting

An ex-felon has been convicted of second-degree murder for fatally shooting a man during an argument in unincorporated San Leandro four years ago.
 
An Alameda County Superior Court jury on Thursday convicted 33-year-old Damien Earl Jones of the murder charge, as well as illegal use of a firearm and additional firearm-related felonies for the shooting death of 33-year-old Billy Ray Williams in the 15000 block of Robin Street in unincorporated San Leandro at about 8:30 a.m. on July 8, 2010.
 
Prosecutors said Jones and Williams knew each other through women they were each dating. Williams, who was intoxicated, knocked on the door of Jones' girlfriend's home, according to prosecutors. Jones answered the door and the two men argued over a gun that Williams had left at the home, prosecutors said.

Williams eventually got his gun from Jones, but Jones had already partially unloaded it and then drew his own gun and fatally shot Williams, according to prosecutors. Ballistics evidence showed that Jones fired at least 19 times and stopped to reload with another magazine, prosecutors said.
 
After Williams was already injured and lying on the ground, Jones fired additional shots, with his last seven shots including five in Williams' back and two execution-style shots to the back of Williams' head, according to prosecutors. Williams never fired his gun and died at the scene, authorities said.
 
After the killing, Jones threatened a witness, fled the scene and hid the murder weapon, prosecutors said. He was arrested four days later in a rental car wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying two more loaded handguns in his car, police said. Prosecutors said Jones' defense was that he fired in self-defense, but jurors rejected that claim.
 
Jones couldn't legally possess firearms because he was a convicted felon, according to prosecutors. Jones faces at least 16 years to life in state prison when he is sentenced by Alameda County Superior Court Judge Morris Jacobson on July 30.

—Bay City News