Mother and 13-year-old daughter fatally shot in Oakland by mother’s boyfriend

A tragic incident occurred in East Oakland on Saturday, resulting in the death of 13-year-old, Desiree Jenkins, and her mother, 44-year-old Rebecca Jenkins.

According to reports, Rebecca's boyfriend, 46-year-old Antonio Lamont Powell, allegedly shot and killed the mother and daughter during an argument.

Another child, Desiree's best friend who was at their sleepover, was also shot and taken to UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland. Family and friends have identified the injured child as Desiree's best friend.

The shooting happened on Birch Street near 94th Ave, just after 11 p.m. on Saturday.

Two other children, a 7-year-old and an infant, who were inside the apartment at the time of the shooting, were unharmed. Powell was arrested on suspicion of murder and assault with a firearm.

Denise Jenkins, the 15-year-old daughter of Rebecca and sister of Desiree, was also present during the incident. She spoke with KTVU and said that she heard multiple gunshots while she was in her bedroom. Denise ran to another bedroom and called 911. Sadly, when police arrived at the scene, Rebecca and Desiree had already passed away, while Desiree's best friend was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Desiree was a student at Montera Middle School and had a passion for braiding hair. Her father, Jaron Jenkins, described her as a respectful and lovable person who had dreams of owning her own hair salon one day. He expressed his grief over the loss of his daughter and ex-wife in a Facebook post.

Denise also shared that her mother was always there for her and her siblings, treating them well and standing up for them. She described her younger sister as a kind person who loved braiding hair and was always there for others.

Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the victims during this difficult time.