Second suspect charged in fatal shooting of Oakland rapper in July – The Mercury News

OAKLAND — A second suspect has been arrested and charged in reference to the fatal shooting of an aspiring rapper last month shortly after she performed on the grand opening of a North Oakland cosmetics store, in accordance with agency and court documents.

Richard Romano, 32, is charged with murder, assault with a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon in reference to the killing of 27-year-old Alliauna Green, who performed under the name Tan DaGod.

Romano, who was arrested at his Oakland home on August 6, denied any involvement within the murder, in accordance with court records.

The same charges were filed on July 22 against Dominic Gates, 30, the opposite suspect within the fatal shooting who was arrested near his Berkeley home on July 18. Gates, who has an extended criminal history, refused to talk to investigators.

Both men are being held without bail on the Santa Rita Jail and are scheduled to enter their guilty pleas on Friday.

The fatal shooting occurred on July 13 at about 5 p.m. after Green filmed a music video and performed on the opening of Glamour Beauty Supply on the corner of fortieth Street and Telegraph Avenue. The shooting occurred in a car parking zone where dozens of individuals were gathered. Another woman was injured by apparent broken glass, police said.

A stray bullet also hit a close-by house, but nobody inside was injured.

Authorities say Romano and Gates know one another, however it is unclear whether either or each of them knew Green.

Both suspects allegedly shot Green, investigators said, however the reason behind the shooting has not yet been determined. She was hit a minimum of twice and died within the hospital later that day.

Green had hundreds of followers; well-known Oakland rapper and philanthropist Mistah FAB praised her on social media for her “ambition, drive and courage” and her heart, which was “as big as TEXAS!!!!”

According to court documents, Romano was previously convicted of criminal threat and weapons possession in Santa Clara County in 2015. In 2020, he was convicted of assault on a partner in San Joaquin County and a 12 months later in the identical county for weapons possession. He was sentenced to prison for all 4 convictions.

At the time of his arrest, Gates was a suspect in a June 2023 double homicide during which two men were shot at an East Oakland gas station, authorities said. He was not charged in that case.

According to court records, Gates was previously convicted in Alameda County in 2014 of pimping minors over 16 but under 18 years of age and in 2017 of illegal possession of a firearm. He was previously convicted in Sacramento County in 2022 of assault on a spouse, domestic partner or former domestic partner.

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