Oakland Police Solve Armored Truck Murder, Robbery
Jeffrey Schaub
Reporting
(CBS 5) OAKLAND One week after the Brinks truck robbery and the murder of Brinks guard Anthony Qunitero, Oakland Police and the FBI say they have solved the case. Late Thursday investigators in San Diego arrested 24-year-old William Campbell, the so called "second suspect."
"We believe that Mr. Campbell was the suspect who shot Anthony Quintero during the armed robbery and homicide last Friday," said Deputy Chief Howard Jordan.
Police say Campbell was a friend of 28 year old Clifton Wherry, who is seen in a surveillance video taken the very morning of the Brinks Heist. Police say both men conspired to pull off the robbery. In effect, it was an inside job, because Wherry, also a Brings guard, was riding along side Anthony Quintero in the armored truck that day.
"Both Mr. Wherry and Mr. Campbell have made confessions in regard to their involvement in the crime and are going to be charged by the Alameda County D.A. for robbery and murder," said Lieutenant Ersie Joyner of Oakland Police. "As you all know, the actions taken by Mr. Wherry and Mr. Campbell rise to the level of a special circumstances which carries with it a possible death penalty sentence."
As for the cash stolen from the armored truck, piles of it were shown by police. They say most of the money was recovered but not all. They did not disclose the exact amount. Police say tips led them to several Bay Area locations where the money may have been located. They finally found it, stuffed in a garbage can at a warehouse location in the Hunters Point section of San Francisco.
Oakland Police Chief Wayne Tucker lamented Quintero's death. "His passing is sad and unfortunate and seemed kind of absurd," Tucker said.
On Friday, Police and Oakland's mayor, Jerry Brown heralded Anthony Quintero, a former marine who had hoped to join the Oakland Police department someday. And the mayor said the quick police work-along with the FBI sends a strong message.
"Everybody in this town who is thinking about pulling a gun ought to realize this is not the city to do it," mayor Brown said. "The cops are good, the D.A. is tough and the citizens of our community will cooperate, will do their part as they did in this case."
