OAKLAND — Murder investigators right here had been on the verge of doubtless fixing two killings, if solely they may determine everybody’s nickname.
The 2020 capturing loss of life of 37-year-old Charles “Scrappy” King Jr. had gone unsolved for years, however in 2024 a person dealing with federal gun prices in Stockton agreed to inform police who had performed it. It was “Lil Bubba,” the eyewitness advised authorities, who’d shot a belligerent “Scrappy” because the sufferer was bragging about having killed “Mini Jug” in the identical space weeks earlier, in accordance with courtroom data.
Police quickly recognized “Lil Bubba” as 47-year-old Ahmad Wyatt, and a second suspect was later recognized as 44-year-old Andre “Frog” Heard, courtroom data present. Each had been charged in 2024, and have since resolved their instances.
Heard pleaded no contest to assault with a firearm for a three-year jail time period, and Wyatt was sentenced to 11 years after pleading no contest to voluntary manslaughter, courtroom data present. Wyatt was transferred to North Kern State Jail on Sept. 18.
Police had been later in a position to establish “Mini Jug” as 46-year-old Karlin Watts, who was shot and killed on Sept. 19, 2019, whereas standing on the 1400 block of eighty fifth Avenue in Oakland, authorities mentioned. 5 months later, on Feb. 12, 2020, King was shot and killed on the similar location, allegedly after bragging about having killed Watts, antagonizing passers-by and knocking Wyatt down throughout a confrontation.
“I guess he felt he was big (expletive) because of what he did. He thought people were scared of him,” the witness who got here ahead after catching a federal gun case testified on the 2024 preliminary listening to. An Oakland detective later testified that it was broadly believed round that neighborhood that King had killed Watts.
After being shot, King allegedly tried to run away, leaving a blood path and limping from the world as he yelled, “I’m hit.” Then one of many suspects allegedly fired once more, killing him.
On the preliminary listening to, Choose Rhonda Burgess doubted the defendants fired at King merely to scare him, saying that, primarily based on King’s status as a killer, that might be like “poking the bear.” She additionally mentioned that King appeared to be going out of his strategy to anger individuals.
“Mr. King has certainly done a lot that evening to make a lot of enemies,” Burgess mentioned.
Initially Revealed: October 6, 2025 at 4:32 PM PDT
