Teen Arrested in Double Slaying at Mall

A 17-year-old San Bernardino boy was arrested on suspicion of shooting to death a father and son in a mall parking lot Monday and will be prosecuted as an adult, authorities said.

Anthony Maurice Cook Jr. was arrested at his home late Monday, hours after he allegedly fired a semiautomatic handgun at three people sitting in a car at the Waterman Discount Mall in San Bernardino.

Odrum Brooks, 34, and his son, DeMarcus Brooks, 16, were killed. A third occupant of the car was shot in the leg.

“[Cook] will be 18 in February and when you consider the nature of the crime -- shooting multiple times in a packed parking lot in broad daylight after lying in wait ... it’s one that deserves to be prosecuted in adult court,” said San Bernardino Police Sgt. Brian Boom.

Police are searching for an acquaintance of Cook’s who allegedly took part in the shooting.

Autopsies will determine if shots from the gun struck either victim, he said.

The chances of arresting the alleged second shooter are “very high,” Boom said. “We know who he is.”

Police said the shooting followed a verbal confrontation between the victims and a group of four males, including Cook, inside the mall.

Investigators said the shooting appeared to be a retaliation by Cook. Cook’s brother, Jerry Owens, was shot to death July 23 at a San Bernardino home after being confronted by two men and two teenage boys.

Boom said the third occupant of the Brooks car, who survived Monday’s shooting, had been arrested on suspicion of killing Owens, but charges were later dropped as prosecutors became convinced that another man fired the fatal shots in that case.

“This shooting was related to the July homicide,” Boom said. “[The July homicide] was a neighborhood feud that escalated into a shooting. The Brookses had nothing to do with Owens’ death.”

Police said Odrum Brooks had been released from prison Monday, where he had served time for a parole violation.