Handyman says he killed editor

OAKLAND, Calif. (MCT) — A 19-year-old handyman at Your Black Muslim Bakery admitted to police Friday night that he ambushed and killed Oakland Post editor Chauncey Bailey, investigators said.

Police said Devaughndre Broussard told them he killed Bailey because he was angry over stories the journalist had written about the bakery, its employees and leaders in the past. Investigators said Broussard was also concerned about stories that he thought Bailey might be working on. Bailey had apparently been working on a story about the group and its finances, authorities said.

Broussard allegedly made the admission to Sgts. Derwin Longmire and Lou Cruz. Broussard had been arrested at his home Friday morning, where police recovered the shotgun that they believe was used to kill Bailey the day before.

Apparently Broussard had found out where Bailey lived and before the killing Friday morning had gone to the newspaper offices to see if he was there. When he found that Bailey had not arrived at work yet, he began driving around in a van looking for him and spotted him in the 200 block of 14th Street, where he confronted him on the street and allegedly shot him several times with the shotgun.

Spent shotgun shells found at the scene were matched to the shotgun recovered at Broussard's residence, police said. Broussard had worked at the bakery as a handyman and occasional cook for eight months before leaving in March to find other employment. But when he could not find a job here turned to the bakery about a month ago and was given a post again, police said.

Broussard is currently on probation for a robbery conviction out of San Francisco. He was scheduled to be booked on suspicion of murder Saturday. Six other people who were arrested in a raid at the bakery Friday morning were still being interviewed, but no one else was expected to be booked on murder charges.

Those arrested included Yusuf Bey IV, the son of the Black Muslim Bakery founders.

Those in custody Friday were arrested for past assaults, gun attacks and a kidnapping. Two others are still being sought by police. Lorna Brown, an Oakland attorney who has represented the Beys in the past, did not return calls for comment.

Bailey, 57, a former Oakland Tribune reporter, was walking to the Oakland Post when he was gunned down about 7:25 a.m.

Walter Riley, an attorney for the Oakland Post, said Bailey had been working on a story about "the financial status of the organization" and the "activities of a number of people who were working in the organization," including possible criminal activity.