Two suspected Oakland sex workers flagged down a car at 2 a.m. Then a man appeared and killed the driver, police say

OAKLAND — Two people have been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the recent death of a motorist who was flagged down by women before a gunmen leapt from the driveway of a nearby residence and killed the victim, court records show.

A man named Shawn’t Lowe, 19, of San Francisco, and a woman named Nelly Rodriguez-Diaz, 19, of Oakland, have been charged with the murder and carjacking of 47-year-old Alfonso Najera-Hernandez. Additionally, Lowe faces a charge of carrying a concealed weapon. Both were arrested on Sept. 5, and prosecutors charged them on Monday, records show.

Lowe and Rodriguez-Diaz both turned 19 the same week they were arrested, with Lowe having to celebrate his birthday in jail. They face a life sentence if convicted.

Najera-Hernandez was driving down the 1500 block of 12th Avenue in Oakland at a few minutes before 2 a.m. on Aug. 10, when two women flagged him down. Investigators said in court records that the women appeared to be sex workers, as they were wearing lingerie-style clothing and had been loitering in the area, which is known for prostitution.

The women briefly conversed with Najera-Hernandez when Lowe allegedly came from a hiding place on the driveway of a nearby residence and attempted to open the door to Najera-Hernandez’s car. The two struggled for a few moments, then Lowe allegedly fired at least one shot, killing Najera-Hernandez.

After the shooting, the two women and the shooter allegedly fled in the same direction. Authorities believe Rodriguez-Diaz was one of the women who flagged down Najera-Hernandez. The third suspect’s identity remains unknown, and police haven’t said if they’ve made any inroads to identifying her.

Lowe and Rodriguez-Diaz were identified through witness statements, “electronic data” and surveillance footage, police said in court records. Both remain jailed without bail.