Exterior of Your Black Muslim Bakery Nov. 30, 2005. (Bob Larson/Contra Costa Times)

Exterior of Your Black Muslim Bakery Nov. 30, 2005. (Bob Larson/Contra Costa Times)

By Thomas Peele, The Chauncey Bailey Project

OAKLAND — Guns weren’t allowed at Your Black Muslim Bakery, bakery leader Yusuf Bey IV told police after his arrest in 2007 — but bullets certainly were, according to lengthy testimony from a police officer who told jurors about finding scores of rifle rounds, pistol bullets and shotgun shells in Bey IV’s bedroom above the bakery.

Again and again, Oakland Police Det. Tye Kushner used scissors to snip open small brown envelopes containing bullets found when police raided the bakery on Aug. 3, 2007. Other times, Kushner showed jurors rifle rounds clipped together and boxes containing dozens of shotgun shells and bullets.

In all, Kushner described seizing hundreds of live and spent rounds in and around Bey IV’s living quarters above the bakery.

The ammunition included the type used in the shooting deaths of the three men Bey IV is accused of ordering killed in summer 2007. Bey IV and his co-defendant, bakery member Antoine Mackey, are on trial for murder in connection with the deaths of journalist Chauncey Bailey, Odell Roberson and Michael Wills.

Bey IV and Mackey have pleaded not guilty.

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Bay Area News Group: Chauncey Bailey murder trial Special Report
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With Kushner on the witness stand Wednesday and Thursday, prosecutor Melissa Krum repeatedly showed jurors photographs of pellets found all over Bey IV’s living quarters when police raided the compound on San Pablo Avenue the day after Bailey’s death. The ammunition was scattered on the floor, piled on the dresser and spilling from dresser drawers, and strewed on closet floors.

Testimony in the case continues Thursday, when Oakland Police Sgt. Derwin Longmire is expected to be called to the witness stand. Longmire — who Bey IV once reportedly considered a mentor — was the primary investigator of Bailey’s killing and now works as a patrol officer.

Contact investigative reporter Thomas Peele at tpeele@bayareanewsgroup.com. Follow him at Twitter.com/thomas_peele.

 Chauncey Bailey Project reports are also being featured at:
–Center for Investigative Reporting
–Maynard Institute
–New America Media
–San Francisco Bay Guardian