Murder charge filed against suspect in West Nevin Avenue shooting

The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office has charged the man arrested last week in connection with a fatal shooting in Richmond with first-degree murder.

Jabari Armon Fontenot, 31, was charged Tuesday with the murder of Melvin Murphy, who was shot and killed May 30 on the 200 block of West Nevin Avenue. The complaint includes a firearm enhancement alleging that Fontenot discharged a weapon causing great bodily injury and Murphy's death.

Fontenot is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in Department 6 at the A.F. Bray Courts Building Annex in Martinez. If convicted, he faces 50 years to life in prison.

Richmond police arrested Fontenot hours after the shooting, using Flock Safety license plate reader technology to track his vehicle from Richmond into Concord, where officers from the Concord Police Department took him into custody.

A memorial graphic circulating on social media identifies Melvin Murphy, known in the community as "Papa Smurf," who was born July 8, 1961 and killed May 29, 2026. Image/ @hookerboyfilmz510

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Richmond Police Department Investigations Bureau at (510) 621-1288.

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