OAKLAND – Prosecutors on Friday charged a 38-year-old man with the murder of an Oakland Gay Men’s Chorus singer.
Curtis Marsh was found unresponsive with “multiple lacerations and trauma” at an apartment complex in the 200 block of Vernon St., near Lake Merritt, on the morning of March 4, according to court records. Officers had gone to the complex to investigate reports of a man calling for help and smoke coming from inside an apartment.
Marsh was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities identified Oakland resident Sweven Waterman as a suspect based on surveillance footage, witness statements and electronic data, according to court records.
On Thursday, Waterman was arrested in Berkeley and taken to the Oakland Police Department Criminal Investigations Division, where he “provided investigators with a denial statement to where he was during the murder,” according to court records.
Waterman has half a dozen convictions for crimes including second-degree robbery, forgery and evading.
In a Facebook post Friday, the Oakland Gay Men’s Chorus recalled Marsh as an “accomplished tenor” who “brought style and verve to every event, large and small.”
“Curtis was a constant source of brightness, warmth and joy. He loved as dearly as he was loved by others, and gave back heartily to his family, friends and community. The life force of this man was a gift deserving of love, gratitude and applause,” the post read.
“We are heartbroken at the senseless loss of his life, and stand in solidarity and deep sympathy with those who knew and loved him.”
A gathering for Marsh is scheduled to take place Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center at 3207 Lakeshore Ave., according to the Facebook post.
Check back for updates.
Source: www.mercurynews.com