Boy, 15, charged with killing Oakland teen’s father
Jan 13, 2025
(KRON) -- A 14-year-old Oakland boy said he watched his father die within seconds after another teenager shot him. Ponciano "Chano" Tule Bernal was slain on December 26, 2024 on Foothill Boulevard, police said.
"My dad was shot in his heart and didn’t survive. I saw my dad fall to the ground in front of our house, choking on his own blood," the homicide victim's 14-year-old son wrote in a somber GoFundMe post.
On Monday, the Oakland Police Department told KRON4 that a 15-year-old boy was arrested in connection to Bernal's death and prosecutors filed charges against the juvenile.
The incident began on the afternoon of December 26 when the victim's son decided to ride his scooter to a taco truck. Three juveniles approached and robbed the 14-year-old boy of his scooter, the GoFundMe page states.
"I ran to a laundromat and asked for help, but no one would help me. While I was at the laundromat, I waited for them to leave. I ran back home and told my dad," the son wrote.
Bernal went outside to find the group who had just robbed his son, according to the page.
Ponciano "Chano" Tule Bernal (Photo via Facebook)
"My dad decided to go out and look for them. He noticed and saw the three guys I had told him about. At that point, I was kind of scared. They had already taken my scooter, but the guys took it as a threat when my dad confronted them. We walked away and left it as it was, but they started following us and pointed a gun at us," the page states.
Before the father could make it back inside his home, one of the boys in the group pulled out a gun and opened fire, the page states. Police said the father died from gunshot wounds at the scene.
The Oakland Police Department did not release the suspected shooter's name because he is a juvenile.
OPD said it is still looking for information, videos, or photos that could assist detectives with their homicide investigation. Anyone with information can call 510-238-3821, or send images by emailing [email protected].