Woman charged with murdering three people in Oakland

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Outside the Oakland home on Dunbar Drive where three people were killed Friday is a growing memorial including a framed pictures of 19-year-old stabbing victim Benny Wright, along with his framed college essay. He wanted to be a doctor or hairdresser. Someone who would help other people feel good.

"Benny was a very genuine guy, loving, caring," said Khari Campbell-Wright, Benny's brother.

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Campbell-Wright lost his brother and his mother Patricia along with her partner Charlotte Reed all on the same day.

Dana Rivers, the suspect in this triple homicide, was taken into custody by police at the home covered in blood. Rivers is accused of stabbing Benny to death and shooting and stabbing Benny's mother and her partner. Court documents say Rivers had ammunition and knives in her pocket. Rivers is also accused of setting the garage on fire.

"I do forgive this woman and I understand there's bigger things in life than a lot of hate," Campbell-Wright.

"My family moved out here because they wanted to be who they were they wanted to be in an accepting environment," explained Richard Wright, Patricia Right's brother.

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Something Rivers may have understood. She previously made headlines when she was a teacher in Sacramento forced from her job after beginning her gender transition.

"My understanding is that Charlotte may have known her," said Richard Wright, Patricia Right's brother.

Students at Berkeley High School who knew Benny before he graduated have come together.

"What could be so bad one to kill three people, but then, as a former educator, to take the life of a young person?" asked Claudia Gonzalez, Benny's former teacher.

Dana Rivers, 61, who's being held without bail, was scheduled to be arraigned at the Wiley Manuel Courthouse in Oakland Wednesday on the three murder charges as well as arson of an inhabited structure or property and possession of metal knuckles. Her court date put over to December. Rivers,

Officer Hector Jimenez wrote in a probable cause statements that officers who went to a residence in the 9400 block of Dunbar Drive at 12:21 a.m. on Friday to investigate a report of gunshots found a male, identified in court documents as Toto M. Diambu, lying in front of the residence suffering from an apparent stab wound.

Jimenez said that as the officers were providing aid to Diambu they heard a loud bang coming from the garage and then saw Rivers walking out of the residence covered in blood.

Rivers was detained and when they searched her they found ammunition in her pocket along with knives, according to Jimenez.

As officers were detaining Rivers she began making spontaneous statements about her involvement in the murders, Jimenez said.

When officers continued search the residence they found the other two victims, identified in court documents as Charlotte Kuulei Reed and Patricia A. Wright, inside of the residence suffering from both apparent gunshot wounds and stab wounds, according to Jimenez.

The Oakland Fire Department arrived on the scene to try to render aid to the victims but they succumbed to their injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene, Jimenez said.

Rivers is charged with clauses alleging that she discharged a firearm to kill all three victims. The arson count alleges that Rivers willfully, unlawfully and maliciously set fire the residence.

Bay City News contributed to this report.