Second Man Arrested in Connection to 2011 Road Rage Murder

A second suspect in the 2011 fatal shooting of a man driving in North Oakland has been arrested and charged with murder, authorities said. Cartier Hunter, 25, of Oakland was arrested in East Oakland Wednesday night in connection with the Dec. 22, 2011, murder of Charles Butler Jr. of Oakland, police said.
 
Butler, 23, was found shot multiple times in his car at 10:24 a.m. near 46th and West streets. He was hit by gunfire while driving and crashed into two parked cars, causing his car to burst into flames.

Firefighters put the fire out and Butler was taken to a hospital but did not survive his injuries, police said. In October 2012 police released surveillance footage of the minutes before Butler was killed, showing him accidentally nudging a Lexus with his car in a convenience store parking lot nearby on West Street.
 
A passenger in the Lexus then followed Butler into the store and drove after him when Butler left the lot. Police said witnesses confirmed that the passenger had shot Butler.
 
A year after that, in October 2013, police arrested Giovonte Douglas, 22, on suspicion of the murder. Hunter remained at large until Wednesday and was the only outstanding suspect in the case, police said.
 
According to a probable cause statement by Oakland police Officer Phong Tran, Douglas was driving the Lexus pursuing Butler while the passenger fired at his car. The Alameda County District Attorney's Office has charged both men with murder, alleging that Hunter was the passenger in the car firing at Butler.
 
Hunter is being held in Santa Rita Jail without bail and is scheduled for an arraignment Friday at 2 p.m. In addition to the murder warrant, he was wanted on warrants for violation of parole and marijuana sales, according to jail records. Douglas is also being held without bail and is next scheduled to appear in court Monday.

—By Bay City News