Woman charged with murder, other crimes in San Leandro shootout that left one dead, one wounded

SAN LEANDRO — A Berkeley woman who allegedly instigated a Jan. 4 shootout that left an associate of hers dead and a man she had been feuding with wounded has been charged with murder and other crimes, according to authorities and court documents.

Raenah Birdlong, 33, who did not fire any shots, was charged under the provocative act doctrine, meaning her actions led to the death and wounding of the two men, authorities said.

Besides murder, she is also charged with assault with a firearm, first degree residential burglary and carrying a loaded firearm in public.

She is being held without bail at Santa Rita Jail and is scheduled to enter a plea Jan. 27.

The shootout happened about 8:12 p.m. Jan. 4 at an apartment complex in the 2300 block of Miramar Avenue in unincorporated San Leandro.

According to authorities and court documents, there had been an “ongoing feud” between Birdlong and a 34-year-old man who was a guest at the apartment at the time. Investigators have not said why Birdlong seemed to know the 34-year-old man was at the apartment.

The documents say she had “sent multiple threatening messages” to both the 34 -year-old man and another individual “stating she intended to attack” the 34-year-old man “with the assistance of other unknown individuals.”

When Birdlong arrived at the apartment she knocked loudly on the door and “indicated she was alone and stated she was not there to cause any problems,” the documents say. When another person opened the door Birdlong “forced her way inside” and saw the 34-year-old man was there.

The man had been given a gun by another person in the apartment to protect himself once they realized Birdlong was outside, the documents say.

Birdlong then yelled for a man court documents described as her associate, Deangelou McCamey, 30, of Oakland, to come to the apartment, which he did, holding a gun, the documents say. The two had driven to the apartment complex together in Birdlong’s vehicle.

As the 34-year-old man and others inside started retreating to a bedroom, one of the others already inside yelled for anyone entering the apartment that they were not allowed to be there and demanded that they leave, the documents say.

Instead, shots were exchanged between McCamey and the 34-year-old man, leaving McCamey dead and the other man wounded. The 34-year-old man was not charged because he was acting in defense of himself and others, authorities said.

Birdlong fled before Alameda County sheriff’s deputies got to the scene, leaving her vehicle behind in a parking lot.

Birdlong later called the sheriff’s office, demanding to know why her vehicle had been towed. Detectives spoke with Birdlong by phone, during which she agreed to meet with them the following day, stating “just gimme some time with my babies.” When asked why she needed time with her babies, Birdlong indicated she knew she was in “big trouble,” and she was going to jail for “a while,” the documents say.

On Jan. 6 detectives contacted Birdlong and took her to the Eden Township substation. She was advised of her rights and agreed to speak with detectives, the documents say.

The documents say Birdlong provided a self-serving statement, claiming she drove McCamey to the apartment to purchase drugs from another person there.

She stated she was at a neighboring apartment at the time of the shooting but investigators were able to disprove that, the documents say. Birdlong also stated she had brought a firearm with her but believed she left it inside her vehicle. This firearm is believed to be the firearm used by McCamey during the shooting, the documents say.