Full Notification

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11^th, 2024
 
San Leandro Police make arrest in Speedway Gas Station homicide
 
San Leandro, Ca - On Thursday, February 22^nd, 2024, around 12:15 p.m., San Leandro Police responded to the Speedway Gas Station, located at 14880 E. 14^th Street, regarding a victim with head injuries.  The victim, identified as 78-year-old Wadih Badran, an employee of the gas station, was pronounced deceased by attending personnel from the Alameda County Fire Department.
 
Witness statements at the scene indicated the suspect, later identified as 40-year-old Dennis Lee of Stockton, and the victim were in a verbal dispute after Lee was found loitering behind the business.  During the confrontation, Lee came up behind the victim and shoved him into a pole, causing head and neck trauma that proved to be fatal.  Lee was last seen running away into a nearby neighborhood.  Patrol Officers and Detectives conducted an extensive canvass of the area for the suspect, witnesses, and surveillance footage.    
 
Investigators were able to determine Lee’s identity from a combination of surveillance video, Flock Public Safety camera footage, and collected forensic evidence. 
 
On Friday, March 8^th, Lee was taken into custody near his residence in Stockton with the assistance of deputies from the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office.  Search warrants executed at his home, as well as his parents’ home in Castro Valley, resulted in the recovery of clothing worn by Lee during the commission of the homicide and two illegally possessed firearms. 
 
Earlier today, Lee was charged by the Alameda County District Attorney’s office with murder and weapons violations.
 
While criminal charges have been filed, SLPD continues to urge anyone with additional information regarding this incident to contact us via any of the following methods: Detective C. Pricco at (510)577-3244, anonymous tip line at (510)577-3278, or Text-to-Tip at 888777 (keyword: TipSLPolice).