SAN LEANDRO – Prosecutors on Thursday charged a 23-year-old San Leandro man with two counts of murder in connection with the shooting deaths of two men 10 days apart last month in the parking lot of the 24-Hour Fitness at Bayfair Center.
Joshua Ballard was arrested just after 2 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Hesperian Boulevard and Halcyon Drive, the San Leandro Police Department said in a news release.
The victims – identified as Sebahattin Ciftci, 46, and Emre Bozkurt, 21 – were found shot to death in their vehicles on Sept. 14 and Sept. 24, respectively. Police said the men were not specifically targeted and the crimes were not directly related to the gym.
“We understand that this case garnered a lot of community attention and generated an understandably high level of concern for public safety, particularly at 24-Hour Fitness Bayfair,” said Lt. Abe Teng.
Detectives identified a suspect after reviewing surveillance footage collected from nearby businesses. The suspect was caught on camera coming to and from the scenes of both homicides, police said, adding that the suspect wore similar clothing in both instances, including black work boots with a metallic shoelace keeper.
The suspect was also seen wearing a red Nike backpack during the first homicide, police said.
When he was arrested Tuesday, Ballard was wearing the same work boots and backpack as well as carrying a 9mm semiautomatic handgun with no serial number, police said.
Police said a search of Ballard’s home also turned up additional evidence linking him to both killings.
In addition to murder, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office charged Ballard with attempted carjacking, robbery, assault with a firearm and other weapons violations.
Anyone with information related to the case can contact Detective Cole Pricco at 510-577-3244 or the tip line at 510-577-3278.
Source: www.mercurynews.com