HAYWARD, Calif. — A 19-year-old Hayward man was arrested Wednesday in San Leandro on suspicion of attempting to murder his ex-girlfriend after an incident in Berkeley on June 14 in which the woman was shot in the face, Berkeley police said.
Arrest follows more than a month on the run
Authorities identified the suspect as Darius Tate. According to the Berkeley Police Department, Tate and his ex-girlfriend were involved in an altercation inside a home in the 2900 block of Adeline Street at about 11 p.m. on June 14. The argument escalated into a physical attack inside the residence, and when the woman left to get into her car, she was shot.
The victim survived and remains in recovery, police said. Officers allege Tate then searched the victim's vehicle, stole cash and left the scene. He eluded capture until detectives served a warrant Wednesday at an apartment complex in San Leandro.
"evade capture,"
Berkeley's Special Response Unit took Tate into custody during the warrant service. Detectives who searched the San Leandro apartment recovered two loaded handguns and what police described as evidence believed to be connected to the shooting, according to the department.
Charges and related arrests
Berkeley police said Tate faces multiple felony counts, including attempted murder, robbery, domestic violence and carrying a loaded firearm. At a separate location in San Leandro, authorities arrested Tate's mother, Ann Fernandez, 53, on suspicion of being an accessory after the commission of a felony.
| Suspect | Age | Alleged charges |
|---|---|---|
| Darius Tate | 19 | Attempted murder; robbery; domestic violence; carrying a loaded firearm |
| Ann Fernandez | 53 | Accessory after the commission of a felony (suspected) |
Investigators said evidence seized during the San Leandro search included two loaded handguns. Police have not released further details about ballistic testing, the precise nature of the recovered evidence, or whether either weapon has been linked definitively to the June 14 shooting.
Cross-jurisdiction response and community impact
This case stretched across municipal lines: the shooting occurred in Berkeley, the suspect is from Hayward, and the arrest and search took place in San Leandro. Berkeley police handled the investigation and deployed its Special Response Unit to serve the warrant. The incident underscores cooperative work among East Bay law enforcement agencies when suspects move between neighboring cities.
For Hayward residents, the arrest highlights two community concerns: alleged involvement of a local teen in a serious violent crime and the potential for family members to assist suspects in evading law enforcement. Police allege Tate's mother brought him a change of clothing to help him "evade capture," a detail investigators say factored into the accessory arrest.
- Police say the June 14 incident began inside a Berkeley home and escalated when the victim attempted to leave.
- Authorities allege the suspect searched the victim’s car and stole cash after the shooting.
- Two loaded handguns were recovered during a search of a San Leandro apartment tied to the suspect.
Officials have not released the victim's name, consistent with standard practice in many violent crimes, nor have they provided a public status update beyond saying she is recovering from her injuries.
The Berkeley Police Department has charged Tate with several felonies and booked his mother on suspicion of accessory after the fact. Further legal proceedings, including potential arraignment dates, were not available in the department's release.
As investigators continue processing evidence and preparing the case for the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, the arrest closes a weeks-long search that had concerned neighbors across the East Bay. Residents with information related to the case are asked to contact Berkeley police; no public tipline or investigator name was provided in the department's summary.
This developing story will be updated as courts schedule hearings and as prosecutors file charges. NEXO RADAR is monitoring the case for Hayward readers because of the local ties to the suspect and the alleged involvement of a family member living in the same region.
