Berkeley shooting investigation sees man, woman arrested
BPD seized an AR-15-style ghost gun and numerous high-capacity magazines during an investigation into a non-injury shooting Monday.
A Berkeley shooting investigation led to a woman's arrest Monday after police found her home "uninhabitable … for the juveniles residing there."
A man staying with the woman was also arrested, police said in a statement Tuesday.
The investigation began Monday when Berkeley police got a report at about 10:10 a.m. about a bullet that had been fired into an apartment in the 2400 block of Eighth Street, Berkeley police said in Tuesday's statement.
No one was hurt but, through their investigation, Berkeley police officers determined that the bullet had come from a neighboring apartment occupied by Richmond resident Tyreece Stitts.
Berkeley police called out their Special Response Team, what other agencies call SWAT, and attempted to contact Stitts, BPD said.
While that was happening, a woman "arrived on the scene and tried to force her way past the police," BPD said. The woman was later identified as 31-year-old Princess Dennis, the resident of the apartment where Stitts was staying.
"Dennis was detained by officers pending further investigation," Berkeley police said.
Police tried to contact Stitts for hours but were unable to reach him, BPD said. Once they made contact, Stitts was taken into custody without incident.
"After a 5-hour standoff, officers talked Stitts into safely exiting the residence," Berkeley police said. He was taken into custody along with a juvenile and six dogs that had been in the apartment.
Police then searched the apartment and seized an AR-15-style ghost gun and numerous high-capacity magazines, BPD said.
"During this search, it was determined that the apartment was in complete disarray, was uninhabitable, and was not a safe environment for the juveniles residing there," BPD said.
Police took Stitts to the hospital "for medical reasons" and, as of Tuesday, said he was "still being investigated for the shooting."
He had not been booked as of publication time.
Read more about crime in Berkeley.
BPD arrested Princess Dennis on suspicion of child endangerment, possession of an assault weapon, possession of large capacity magazines and resisting arrest.
Police said they are still working to determine some of the facts surrounding the case.
"This is an ongoing investigation, and these are the facts that we know at this time," BPD said in Tuesday's statement. "DNA evidence was collected on scene and will assist us as we proceed with the investigation."
Emilie Raguso
Dennis, an in-home care aide, was scheduled for arraignment Thursday at Wiley Manuel Courthouse in Oakland, according to court records online.
She has no prior charges in Alameda County, according to court records online.
Dennis is being held on $165,000 bail at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin.
The Scanner has asked for further information about Stitts and booking photographs for Stitts and Dennis. This story will be updated if additional information is provided.
