Berkeley PD: Pot deal robbery led to gunfire outside Malcolm X
During the deal, police said, the driver hit the gas, leaving alleged shooter Saul Camacho Ballesteros "hanging out the driver's side window."
A Stockton man who came to Berkeley to sell marijuana has been charged with opening fire outside Malcolm X Elementary during school pickup hours, authorities say.
In a statement to Berkeley police, Saul Camacho Ballesteros said he was the victim of a robbery Sept. 8, the day of the shooting.
According to court papers, the 28-year-old had come to Berkeley "for a marijuana transaction" shortly before 5 p.m. and met up with "two unknown males" in a white van.
Sometime during the deal, police said, the driver took off, leaving Camacho Ballesteros "hanging out the driver's side window."
Police said he fell off the van a few blocks later, then "stood up and fired multiple gunshots" toward the fleeing driver, on Ashby Avenue from King Street.
"The gunshots were fired in the direction of Malcom X elementary school during school pickup hours," police wrote in charging papers.
The school was not the intended target of the shooting, authorities said previously.
BPD recovered seven 9mm bullet casings at the scene. Perhaps miraculously, no one was hurt.
Emilie Raguso
On Sept. 18, when Camacho Ballesteros gave his statement to BPD, investigators seized his gun, which was registered to him.
Detectives later confirmed it was the same gun that had been used in the shooting, police wrote.
Berkeley's Flock camera system helped police track down the suspect and crack the case.
On Monday, the Alameda County district attorney's office charged Camacho Ballesteros with three felonies: discharge of a firearm with gross negligence and carrying a concealed, loaded firearm, according to court papers.
He remains in custody with a bail of $100,000 and is scheduled for arraignment Tuesday.
Read more about shootings in Berkeley.
In a statement just after the shooting, South Berkeley Councilman Ben Bartlett called it "shocking and tragic."
He said he had "full confidence" the shooter would be "brought to justice."
"This is every parent's worst nightmare," Bartlett said. "It is disturbing to think of such a reprehensible act happening in a place meant for learning and joy, where our children should always feel safe. Thankfully, no injuries were reported, but the incident has left us all shaken."
As of Sept. 29, Berkeley has had 12 shootings in 2025, including one by police. Last year there were 21 shootings over the same period.
