OAKLAND — Two men have been convicted of second degree murder for killing an 18-year-old woman while allegedly attempting to shoot one another, in what prosecutors described as a dispute between pimps.
Silas-Omari Bryant, 33, and Derrick McIntyre, 49, were both convicted after being tried jointly under the theory that they shot at each other on May 22, 2024, killing 18-year-old Bre’Elle Vercher in the process. Prosecutors say that Vercher was being trafficked by Bryant and fought another sex worker over a dispute involving stolen property, prompting the second woman to bring her pimp — McIntyre — into the disagreement.
But both men were acquitted of attempting to murder one another, indicating a jury didn’t buy a key provision to the prosecution’s theory.
During the confrontation, McIntyre and Bryant allegedly threatened to kill one another repeatedly, and Bryant posted video of Vercher fighting the woman on social media. The two men allegedly continued to call and threaten each other, with Bryant telling McIntyre he would kill him and the woman Vercher had fought.
“I’m prepared,” McIntyre allegedly responded.
Later, Bryant allegedly donned a ski mask and waited for them on West MacArthur Boulevard, opening fire on the vehicle as it passed by, prompting McIntyre to return fire. Prosecutors say McIntyre drove away, readied himself, then shot up Bryant’s occupied car, and that’s when Vercher was fatally shot.
In a statement to this news organization, McIntyre’s lawyer, William Welch, blamed Bryant for the killing, calling the verdicts an “emotional response to a terrible tragedy.” He said that Vercher was ducking down when McIntyre fired at Bryant in self-defense after he ambushed McIntyre’s car, and predicted McIntyre would win his appeal.
“There was no evidence that Mr. McIntyre knew anyone was in the vehicle, and all the evidence established that no one was visible in the car,” Welch said. “At no time did Mr. McIntyre show conscious disregard for human life because there is no possibility that he could have known there was a person ducking down inside.”
After Bryant dropped Vercher off at a hospital in San Francisco, he allegedly urinated onto his own hands to erase the trace of gunshot residue. Despite this precaution, prosecutors were able to tie him to the shooting through witness testimony and digital evidence, according to court records.
The initial investigation was hampered because police had to figure out where the shooting took place. Authorities believe Bryant took Vercher to a hospital in another jurisdiction to throw off detectives.
Both men are set to be sentenced on Dec. 1. Bryant’s lawyer, Erik Babcock, didn’t respond to a request for comment. Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson issued a brief statement praising the jury’s work.
An online fundraiser for Vercher said she had plans to start college just a few months from the time of her murder.