Oakland murder charges against suspects dismissed, they released

In Oakland, the prosecution of two suspects in the murder of rapper Tan DaGod has collapsed. Dominc Gates, 21, and Richard James Romano, 32, have pleaded no contest to gun charges. They accepted a plea deal that allows them to be released from jail this year. Both suspects were originally charged with the 2024 killing of the rising rapper, whose real name was Alliauna Green. She was shot during a chaotic event while promoting a beauty salon. New evidence revealed during a court hearing showed that Green had fired a gun first, prompting the defense to argue she instigated the violence. Gates and Romano will serve a two-year sentence for felony gun possession but could be out by mid-2025 for good behavior. Prosecutors have dropped the murder charges against them. Romano's lawyer claims the outcome proves Green threatened the men, and they acted in self-defense. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear. Green, 27, was gaining attention in the Bay Area rap scene and had fabricated several violent stories about herself. Investigations found these tales were meant to enhance her public persona. Gates has faced previous legal issues, including being linked to another fatal shooting in 2023. The case and the plea deal have raised questions about evidence and the quality of police investigations.