Garrett Berki Killed During Craigslist Robbery

SAN DIEGO — A college student who was robbed when responding to a Craigslist ad was fatally shot by one of three teen assailants as he and his girlfriend followed them into a cul-de-sac, authorities said Thursday.

Officers found Garrett Berki, 18, of San Diego slumped behind the wheel of his car late Wednesday, said Lt. Kevin Rooney. He died less than an hour later at a nearby hospital from a single bullet wound.

"It does appear to have been a ruse robbery," Rooney said.

The 17-year-old suspects – Rashon Abernathy, Seandell Jones and Shaquille Jordan – were arrested on suspicion of robbery and murder after attempting to flee on foot.

They will be charged as adults Friday, said Steve Walker, a spokesman for the San Diego County district attorney's office. Prosecutors had not decided which charges to file, he said.

It wasn't immediately known if the three had attorneys.

Berki exchanged text messages with the alleged assailants to arrange the purchase in the gritty southeast San Diego neighborhood of Paradise Hills. Rooney declined to say what the item was, but said it had nothing to do with "drugs, prostitution or anything like that."

"It was a legitimate item," he said.

Berki drove with his 18-year-old girlfriend to meet the boys, who, after a brief conversation, robbed the couple of cash and cell phones, Rooney said. Berki pursued the Honda Accord on a freeway and eventually to a cul-de-sac in an effort to get a license plate.

The cars approached from opposite directions and – as they were almost side by side – one of the teens fired a single shot.

The suspects were caught about 15 minutes later, hiding in yards as police searched with a helicopter, Rooney said. They fled on foot after the car crashed in another cul-de-sac about two blocks from where the shooting occurred.

Berki lived with his mother in San Diego's seaside Pacific Beach area and attended community college. His parents went into seclusion after learning of his death, Rooney said.

Berki's girlfriend was uninjured.

The alleged attack is not the first Craigslist encounter to take a deadly turn.

In Tacoma, Wash., a 23-year-old man was sentenced to more than 100 years in prison last month for a killing related to the online shopping site. Prosecutors said Kioshi Higashi targeted a family for home invasion after the family advertised a diamond ring on Craigslist.

Two men were charged with murder in February in the killing of Hazel Park, Mich., man who was trying to buy a cell phone on Craigslist.

A medical student was accused of killing a New York City masseuse in April 2009 after meeting her on Craigslist. Philip Markoff killed himself as he awaited trial.

Rooney advised Craigslist users to meet in populated areas during the day.

"Whenever you're involved with Craigslist, keep in mind you're dealing with strangers," he said. "You don't know if they're good or bad."

Comments

[Susan B]

04:15 AM on 05/17/2011

Earlier this evening, some co-workers & I helped this young man's mother select & purchase what she'll wear to her son's funeral. That she could function amid such enormous grief astounded me. No mother - black, white, or otherwise - should have to attend her son's funeral like this.
I hope those who were unable to prevent their "good boys" from straying & now defend them will at least consider that they'll get to visit their living sons in prison, while another will have to mourn the violent death of her own good boy.

[dbrett480]

08:49 PM on 05/15/2011

This is going to be an open and shut case. 1st degree murder with gang and gun enhancements will mean that these "kids" will be residents of a CA prison until they are about 50.

[PoliticalRockChick]

03:26 PM on 05/15/2011

As a black woman, I am disgusted how black men turn toward the life of crime. That was such a senseless act, these boys deserve to be in jail. The mother who called her child a good boy should have spent more time focusing on her kids' education, keeping them off the streets and making sure he didn't end up hanging around the wrong crowd. Black people needs to stop making excuses.

[dbrett480]

08:54 PM on 05/15/2011

The mother shouldn't have said anything during the prelim. The victim's family was at the hearing and for the suspect's mother to say that she just wants her son back is the height of insensitivity.

[O K Ali]

02:07 AM on 05/17/2011

Thank you.

[ggeureka]

10:54 PM on 05/14/2011

To FORDUSA and to all comments regarding to Black American youth, before you begin this race, eco-soc and generalization rant. Please look at the affects of your words and the relationship this will create with blacks and whites. I find it very distasteful for you and other users to make such comments. First we need to look at what has happened and realize that we need to fix and help our youth. I am not saying that what they did is justified but you have no right to assume that all blacks are the same. You leave room for me and others to assume the same about whatever race you are. I am a Black American finishing up my junior year of college. Double majoring in Political Science and Sociology, paying my own way at a four year private university. I am a Nationally ranked Speech and Debate competitor and I come from an urban area in MO. So please help other users and myself to see what threat would I have on anyone outside of my skin tone? You should really rethink the way you post things, and find a better way to communicate what you are trying to say like you I am upset at this for all involved. God bless all the families involved, and prayers for his family coming from MO.

[jacobisrael]

11:57 AM on 05/22/2011

Take it to the FBI who claims that American black male youths commit murder, and are murdered, at a rate of 400 per 100,000 population, a rate 2,000X (two thousand TIMES) greater than residents of North Dakota, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and southern Ireland.

Ignore that and it's almost exclusively your own brethren who will suffer.

[Brandon Choi]

04:50 PM on 05/14/2011

Bin laden killed 3,000+ Americans. But those everyday crimes committed by blood thirsty animals kill more! This is worse than terrorism! I hope these 3 "good boys" will spend the rest of their lives behind the bars. （I doubt if they deserve to live their lives, but for the sake of life, let them live and restrict their freedom forever!)

[FordUSA]

12:09 PM on 05/14/2011

My tips for a successfull transaction on craigslist

1. meet in a starbucks or Grocery store (THINK SECURITY CAMERAS ) in case something goes wrong.
2. If people of color(young kids) walk away from the transaction, I know how it sounds but not worth it.
3. never reply to add and send your number, always ask for their number
4. Transaction regarding big ticket item meet in a police or sherrif station in the lobby.

[Anti-Panoptic]

01:22 AM on 05/15/2011

Im a "young person of color".

Your comment was genius regarding people who look like me. :(

[makestotalsense]

11:24 AM on 05/15/2011

So the guy who was k *ll*ng women on Craig's list was of color, right?

[Leigh Sanders]

09:22 AM on 05/14/2011

God some of you are so ignorant. "Poor?" First off, its hard to be Poor in California, my daughter goes to school with these boys and was close with one of them. They are not poor, you cant find a house in he area we all live for under $220,000.00. Regardless of how awful this crime was, it is quite sad to see grown ass adults talking about kids this way. My daughter is the same age and she is very much still a kid...mentally, emotionally, etc. And just as an FYI, there are other innocent kids, specifically my daughter who was very close with Rashon, spending all night the last couple nights on the computer defending and commenting on these awful comments about one of her friends. Your comments are affecting other kids who are going through the tradegy of knowing a good friend did this. So think before you speak.

[FordUSA]

12:13 PM on 05/14/2011

Hope they FRY now that the death penalty is back on in california

[dbrett480]

02:13 PM on 05/14/2011

These "boys" are criminals. This was not some random crime that they just happened to walk into. It was somewhat advanced and utilized a firearm. Also did you not hear that they were gang members? Not exactly the type of people I would want my kids to hang out with; unless you are fine with your daughter being a future resident of Las Colinas.

[Brandon Choi]

04:51 PM on 05/14/2011

agreed. this is an organized crime! too obvious. They had no Mac to sell on craigslist. they lured this poor boy and mercilessly killed him!

[Leigh Sanders]

09:07 AM on 05/14/2011

Kudos to you Meka! You say exactly what I was saying! I live in the heart of skyline, and all the deaths that have happened in the last month, and this is the first story I saw on the news. I feel terribly sorry for the family who lost their son, but as an outsider looking in, I cant imagine what someone was thinking going to buy something off Craigslist in Paradise Hills at 10:30 at night. And then to follow them when after a gun was produced! I dont believe it was just to get the license number, it doesnt take that long to get a plate number! Its a tragedy all the way around, something that went tragically wrong in a matter of minutes. My daughter goes to school with all three and was especially close with Rashon. He was a good kid and good student, and I dont know how he wound up in this position. But as a parent of a 17 yr old graduating next month, my heart goes out to all of their parents, I cant imagine being in that position, planning a graduation and now facing never seeing your child outside of prison again.

[dbrett480]

02:14 PM on 05/14/2011

The victim made some very stupid decisions without having the time to think about them. But what 18 year old hasn't? As for the suspects, they were gang members, had more than enough time to plan the robbery, and used a weapon. They won't be out of prison until they are in their 50s.

[Brandon Choi]

04:42 PM on 05/14/2011

Have you even realized that it is because those criminals , that we , the good people can't even go out at 10:30? it is not suppose to be like that! Instead of giving sympathies to the victims families, you start blaming the victim and defending the gang member criminals! what kind people are you? i've read your comments , i can only say : WHAT A PIECE OF WORK!

[Belyeu4190]

06:13 AM on 05/14/2011

More mindless fools killing for nothing.

[Meka L]

11:35 PM on 05/13/2011

The is more to this story that will come out, the details are too sketchy. I am grew up in the "gritty" Southeast neighborhood of Paradise Hills. This neighborhood is getting a bad rap, because of some miscellaneous "deal" went down in this otherwise subdued neighborhood. The neighborhood is comprised of many families and professionals. There are no projects, or even apartments in the part of Paradise Hills were this "deal" occurred. There is no corner know for drug deals, nor a house that deals drugs openly (in underground standards). Further it was evident that the boys that placed the ad were not from the area, since they ended up in a cul-de-sac during the chase, everyone from this area, "South Bay Terrace" is aware that the majority of the streets in the area are comprised of cul-de-sacs. Paradise hills is the most desired area in Southeast San Diego.

Don't get me wrong other areas of SE San Diego does have its problems. There has been over 17 murders/shooting in the last month of young men, in other SE San Diego areas, but no coverage on that. It took a non-Southeast San Diego resident's death to bring attention to any of the other murders there. Excuse us if we seem to lack any fuel for the outcry against this type of violence it's only because we are running so low since this death makes approx the 18th this month. Bless all the families!

[ggeureka]

11:04 PM on 05/14/2011

For you to say something like this, is very childish, ignorant and distasteful. I think you should look at what you are saying before posting. You are generalizing, and not looking at what the story is about. We need to look at how can we help our teens and letting this family know they are in everyone's prayers. Be more proactive, and less stuck on creating something else.

[michael medeiros]

09:51 PM on 05/13/2011

Just another tragic event showing that you really have to keep your guard up and you can't be to trusting,
http://exerciseandnutritiontips.com

[cmr86]

06:39 PM on 05/13/2011

Terrible tragedy. The victim shouldn't have followed them. Sometimes you're fleeced, and there's nothing you can do about it.

[dbrett480]

08:27 PM on 05/13/2011

True. Unless you can defend yourself; your life isn't worth it.

[cmr86]

09:25 PM on 05/13/2011

Even if you can, is it truly worth the risk for a few dollars?

[Meka L]

11:39 PM on 05/13/2011

I totally agree, bless his heart, but he not only jeopardized his life, but everyone in his vehicle. The cops could have traced the robbers from the ad there was no need to chase, no smart! I hope lessons can be learned from the death of this young man.

[jacobisrael]

03:34 PM on 05/13/2011

With regard to the question about equating crime rates with socio-economic status (SES), here's a clue: SES and race are a LINEAR relationship.

Does that need to be explained?

[Set to Jet]

04:40 PM on 05/13/2011

yes please.

[jacobisrael]

04:04 PM on 05/16/2011

This was posted once, but it seems to have disappeared, so here it is again.

It's futile, and misleading, to attempt to separate race from SES because there's a direct correlation between SES and race. What this means is that if a social pathology correlates closely with SES, it ALSO correlates closely with race. Our "news" media clearly missed their opportunity in 2007 when New Orleans reached a RECORD high (even for the US) murder rate of 94.7 murders per 100,000 population:

http://www.census.gov/prod/2009pubs/10statab/law.pdf

Is New Orleans crippled with poverty? No, it was one of the nicest cities in the South before the Blacks became a majority there. The FBI reports that, nationwide, black male youths are murdered at the rate of, and commit murder at the rate of, 400 per 100,000, per year. If such a rate were to sustain itself over 60 years, 24% of them would have been murdered.

And that's being real conservative.

[jacobisrael]

02:59 PM on 05/17/2011

Set to Jet replied: "A classic example of the logic you're using goes as follows:
As ice cream sales increase, the rate of drowning deaths increases sharply.
Therefore, ice cream causes drowning. If you see why this is stupid, take a look at your above posts. If not, I don't know why I'm even engaging in with you."

First, thanks for toning down the rhetoric--a bit. Second, I've got a much bigger and better understanding of what these statistics represent than you might ever imagine. But don't forget, I am NOT arguing anything about "causation", because I DO NOT CARE ABOUT "CAUSATION". I don't CARE about the WHY.

The only point that's being made here is that there IS a correlation, which is something you clearly do understand (otherwise you would not be bending over backwards with your straw man arguments about causation).

Even if you were ever to prove something about "causation", IT IS IRRELEVANT. This is not about hot weather, ice cream, nor low SES--it's about why NOBODY, not even our great white politicians in Washington, have ever been able to get four American cities off the hit list of Murder Capitals of the World for more than four decades now.

[kcinpa]

02:48 PM on 05/13/2011

Craigslist used to be good but the fact that anyone can post on there for free has attracted the dregs of the earth to it and now they've taken over. Too many bad headlines for CL lately...

[MAJK]

08:39 PM on 05/13/2011

99% of Craigslist is legit. A better rate than the classifieds.