An Alameda County prosecutor has dropped an accessory-to-murder case against 25-year-old Kalif Collins after the court could not hold a required preliminary hearing within 60 days, a timing misfire that leaves the alleged gunman still at large.
Collins had been accused of helping the driver flee after 30-year-old Daesjhon Grayson was fatally shot on May 11, 2025, on the 600 block of 16th Street in Oakland. Court filings identify the man charged in the killing as 26-year-old Zairy Rubio, who remains a fugitive. Collins, who was released on $30,000 bail, was accused of driving the suspected shooter away from the scene and later falsely reporting his car stolen.
Prosecutors moved to dismiss the accessory charge on Jan. 26 because they could not hold the preliminary hearing within a 60-day deadline, according to The Mercury News. Court records reviewed by the paper indicate the move was procedural rather than a decision on the strength of the evidence.
Memorial listings and contemporaneous accounts identify Daesjhon Grayson as the victim in the May 11, 2025 killing and list his age as 30. GunMemorial and local reports from the time recorded the fatal shooting on the 600 block of 16th Street.
What prosecutors alleged
In charging documents, prosecutors alleged that Collins acted as the getaway driver for Rubio after the shooting, then tried to cover his tracks by later reporting his vehicle stolen, according to The Mercury News. Collins remained out of custody on $30,000 bail while detectives continued the homicide investigation.
Suspect still wanted
Court records show that 26-year-old Rubio is still wanted on murder charges and that police have not yet found him. The Oakland Police Department lists several ways to submit tips and urges anyone with information to contact detectives or use the department's online tip form at the Oakland Police Department.
Legal implications
The dismissal on timing grounds wipes out the accessory charge for now, but it is not an acquittal and does not necessarily prevent prosecutors from trying again if circumstances change or new evidence comes to light. For families and neighbors, it is a reminder that strict court deadlines and procedural rules can shape how, and how quickly, criminal cases move through the system.
What’s next
The homicide remains unsolved as investigators continue to pursue leads involving Rubio. Anyone with information about the shooting or the suspect's whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Oakland Police Department.
