One of four men initially suspected of shooting and killing an Oakland police officer late last year had all charges against him dismissed this week, the Alameda County district attorney's office confirmed Thursday.
Prosecutors had charged Marquise Cooper, 34, with murder in January in the killing of Officer Tuan Le, 36. Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price said at a news conference Wednesday that those charges were dismissed after a preliminary hearing earlier this month.
Price said the court found prosecutors had presented too little evidence to support the murder charge.
Price announced on August 14 that his office would move forward with the three second-degree robbery charges against Cooper. His bail had been set at $75,000.
However, those charges were also dismissed without prejudice on Wednesday, meaning prosecutors could refile them later. Price said the investigation into Cooper's role and conduct is continuing.
He was fatally shot on Dec. 29 as he and another officer responded to a robbery at a cannabis store around 4:30 a.m.
Both officers were wearing plainclothes in an unmarked vehicle when they were ambushed, according to an account by the Oakland Police Officers Association.
The other officer suffered minor injuries and died at nearby Highland Hospital.
Three other men, Allen Starr Brown, Sebron Russell and Mark Demetrious Sanders, still face a range of charges in the incident.
Charges against Brown, 28, include murder, firearms offenses and second-degree robbery.
Charges against Russell, 31, include murder, second-degree robbery and possession of a firearm by a felon.
He already faced charges in another case that include kidnapping to commit robbery or a sexual offense, second-degree robbery and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Sanders, 27, is charged with murder of a peace officer in the performance of official duties, murder from a vehicle and second-degree robbery.
All three are awaiting trial in Dublin's Santa Rita Jail. Bail was set at $200,000 for Russell, while no bail was offered for Brown or Sanders.
