* Warren King Being Sought By Richmond Police on Million Dollar Warrant for Alleged Murder of John Lyles

Published by Junior Staff Writer on June 24, 2009

ID #09-177

Police released a photo today of a man suspected of fatally shooting his neighbor in Richmond on Saturday afternoon, police said. Officers were called at about 2 p.m. to the 2200 block of Potrero Avenue where they found 41-year-old John Lyles lying in his front yard suffering from a single gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene, Richmond police Sgt. Bisa French said. Witnesses said Lyles had been in a confrontation with 43-year-old Warren King, when King shot him, French said. Several witnesses have talked to police, but investigators still don’t know what caused the confrontation to escalate, Detective Eric Haupt
said. King had been living across the street from Lyles for the past few months and would often wave or say hi to Lyles and members of his family when he saw them. There didn’t appear to be any ongoing conflict between Lyles and King, Haupt said. From witness statements, it appears that the argument Saturday that led to the shooting was relatively minor, Haupt said. A $1 million warrant has been issued for King’s arrest, Haupt said. Lyles is the city’s 19th homicide victim this year, French said. Anyone with information on the shooting or King’s whereabouts is asked to call Haupt at (510) 620-6622.