Judge Orders Three Defendants to Stand Trial for the Murder of Oakland Police Officer Tuan Le, Fourth Defendant Faces Commercial Burglary Charges
August 14, 2024
OAKLAND, CA — The preliminary hearing in the case of Oakland Police Officer Tuan Le’s murder concluded with Hon. Judge Delia Trevino finding sufficient evidence for the three defendants, Sebron Russell, Mark Demetrious Sanders, and Allen Starr Brown, to stand trial for the December 29, 2023, shooting death of Office Tuan Le. The court also found that the evidence supports commercial burglary charges against the fourth defendant, Marquis Copper. Judge Trevino stated that she reviewed the case law and considered the roles of each individual when making her decision.
The Court found that the prosecution team presented sufficient evidence to show that defendants Mark Demetrious Sanders, Allen Starr Brown, and Sebron Russell “knew or should have known” that Officer Tuan Le was a peace officer engaged in his duties at the time of his murder. Based on that finding, Mr. Sanders faces a possible sentence of Life Without the Possibility of Parole (LWOP).
Mr. Sanders will face trial for multiple crimes, including murder with special allegations of personal and intentional discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury, and special circumstances, including the murder of a peace officer engaged in duties and “drive-by” murder and second-degree burglary.
Mr. Allen Starr Brown will also stand trial for murder with special allegations of personal and intentional discharge of a firearm, causing great bodily injury, and second-degree burglary.
Mr. Sebron Russell will also stand trial for multiple crimes, including murder, with a special allegation of felony murder and three counts of second-degree burglary.
The Court found that Marquis Copper was not a major participant in the murder of Officer Tuan Le. Based on the evidence, however, Judge Trevino ordered Mr. Copper to stand trial for three counts of second-degree burglary. His bail is set at $75,000.
The specially assigned vertical prosecution team included Assistant District Attorney Elgin Lowe and Deputy District Attorney Angelina Clay, Inspector Todd Bergeron, and Victim Witness Advocate Aurelia Moreno, supported by the assigned investigators at the Oakland Police Department and the FBI. DA Price expressed her gratitude for the hard work of all those involved in securing justice for Tuan Le’s family and many friends.
Defendants Sanders, Brown, and Russell are scheduled to be arraigned on August 28, 2024, at 9 AM in Department 11 at the René C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland.
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Contact: damedia@acgov.org
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office (DAO) is one of California’s largest prosecutors’ offices and is led by Alameda County’s first Black woman District Attorney Pamela Y. Price. Price brings her vision to this office to fairly administer justice in the pursuit of thriving, healthy, and safe communities for every person who steps foot in Alameda County, no matter their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, income, or zip code. Price has been recognized as one of the most progressive prosecutors through her forward-thinking, innovative strategies to interrupt cycles of violence and crime and bring change to a criminal justice system rooted in systemic racism. Follow Madam DA on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and @AlamedaCountyda on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.