Oakland Mother’s Fiery Rebuke: District Attorney Accused of Going Easy on Son’s Murderer

Terrence McCrary, Jr., 22, was killed in 2016 by a stray bullet during an attack in Uptown Oakland. The tragic death of Terrence McCrary Jr. and the other victims at the party was an incident that rocked the community.

Things got worse when his mother, Florence McRary, learned that District Attorney Pamela Price’s office would grant his killer leniency. In 2021, the Alameda District Attorney’s Office, then under Nancy O’Malley, added a murder charge to the murderer’s charges related to McRary. This could have led to the defendant serving life in prison without parole.

Otis Wyatt shot Craig Fletcher Cooks several times. One of Wyatt’s rounds, however, hit McRary and killed him. Later, he was arrested for a second murder two months after the shooting. Wyatt was arrested and charged with the shooting at the party while in custody.

Wyatt received a 25-year sentence for the second murder in January. Price has now negotiated a plea agreement that includes dropping all charges against McRary.

Wyatt entered into a plea of no contest to one count of voluntary manslaughter relating to Craig Fletcher Cooks in exchange for the dropping of two murder charges.

This charge will carry a maximum sentence of 11 years, plus 10 years for firing a firearm.

The judge explained that the 21-year sentence would run parallel with the 25-year sentence he had already received, which was for life. This means the new conviction will not add any time to the prison term.

McCrary was cleared of all charges, including the murder charge.

Florence McRary, in an interview with Fox News, described how it felt to discover that her son would not receive justice.

“I was completely shocked. It was shocking to see that the battle that took six years to win was reduced to nothing. While sitting in court and hearing even from the judge that this was the best they could do, I felt a sense of utter disappointment. What can you do when your child leaves the house one evening, doesn’t return, and yet, you are forced to bury him? The sentiment of those who work in administration to fight for the people was not enough. His life was reduced to nothing. So very traumatizing.”

The host referred to the dramatic increase in crime in Oakland and asked if the residents “realize that having a DA who is on the side of criminals can be dangerous.”

She responded, “I believe they realize it. That’s why the voice has spoken,” highlighting her support for a recall petition.

McRary’s case is one of many that show how district attorneys prioritizing criminals above civilians can have dangerous consequences. When criminals know that they can violate the rights of others without facing much consequence, they become more confident and commit more crimes.

Price’s office decided that McRary’s death was not worth the pursuit of justice in this case. This could be the turning point for residents who have been put at risk by lax crime policy.