One person has been arrested following the slaying of a 2-year-old whose body was found in rural Napa County, Oakland police said Thursday.
San Pablo police notified Oakland police just before 2:30 a.m. on Dec. 23 that a 2-year-old may have been slain.
The body was found later Friday afternoon. The victim was later identified as Ja'mari Madkins.
The slaying occurred in Oakland, according to police. The circumstances surrounding the death are under investigation.
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According to Oakland Police Chief LaRonne Armstrong, officers took someone in custody. But police added that person has yet to be charged with the killing as they are only being held on unrelated charges.
NBC Bay Area spoke with Ashleigh McCullough, the victim's family friend and said that they are devastated with the news.
"I brought a few things and gifts to try and help relieve some of that strain. One of the household members said 'we were going to make this and that Christmas Eve and Christmas Day' and we didn't do anything. it was just very quiet," she said.
McCullough said that she's a friend of the victim's grandmother, which is why she's now trying to help them raise money for funeral expenses.
"Ja'mari's mother is a minor as well. So, the grandmother, she is responsible for them and she's already working two jobs and has young children at home,” she said.
McCullough said that detectives have also given them very few details of this incident.
Police have not said how the person in custody is connected to the child or what possible charges could be filed. They added that they are not ruling out any further arrests.
Anyone with information about the killing is asked to please call the Oakland Police Department's homicide unit at 510-238-3821 or a tip line at 510-238-7950.
Friends of Ja'mari's family have set up a GoFundMe page to help with memorial expenses.
Bay City News contributed to the report.
