Triple-murder suspect kills himself in Oakland motel standoff

A man who barricaded himself in an Oakland hotel, believed to be Jason Alexander Brown, 18, of Oakland, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound Thursday night. Brown was wanted in connection to three deadly shootings dating back to September. less A man who barricaded himself in an Oakland hotel, believed to be Jason Alexander Brown, 18, of Oakland, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound Thursday night. Brown was wanted in connection to three ... more Photo: Livermore PD Photo: Livermore PD Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Triple-murder suspect kills himself in Oakland motel standoff 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

An 18-year-old suspect in at least three deadly shootings in three different cities apparently took his own life Thursday after barricading himself in an East Oakland Motel 6 and ignoring orders from police to surrender, authorities said.

Around 5:50 p.m., Oakland police were called to the motel on the 8400 block of Edes Avenue to handle a “barricaded suspect wanted for homicide in another city,” officials said. Officers spent several hours trying to talk Jason Alexander Brown into giving up, police said. They even brought his mother to the scene in a failed bid to coax him out of the room peacefully.

Officers entered the room around 11:30 p.m. after hearing gunshots inside and found the man dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, said Officer James Henry, an Oakland police spokesman.

Livermore police Sgt. John Hurd said officers identified the dead man as Brown, whom police have been searching for in connection with three killings dating to September.

Most recently, Brown, an Oakland resident, was suspected in the Oct. 24 shooting death of Jose Mendoza, 32, after he allegedly opened fire on a car in a CVS parking lot in Livermore. Brown allegedly fired rounds from a high-powered rifle into the car, killing Mendoza in the driver’s seat and leaving Ulizes Benitez, 22, critically injured.

Officials said he fled in a black BMW, then led officers on a chase along Interstate 580 before they lost his trail in Oakland.

Sacramento police announced Oct. 27 that Brown was one of two primary suspects sought in connection with a drug-related shooting in the city. Officers arrested the other suspect, John Bunch, 24.

Brown is suspected of playing a part in the Sept. 28 shooting death of 53-year-old Walter Gibson in a parking lot of a Home Depot in the 3600 block of Truxel Road in Sacramento. Gibson was found with several gunshot wounds to his upper body, police said.

In Fresno, authorities issued a $1 million warrant for Brown’s arrest on suspicion of killing a man at the city’s Mekhong Restaurant on Sept. 12.

Brown shot Albert Thao, 27, in the neck while he was eating with a friend, said Lt. Burke Farrah of the Fresno police homicide division. Thao’s friend, whose name was not released, was taken to a hospital with gunshot wounds to his chest.

In that incident, Brown fled in a gray Dodge Charger, police said.

Chronicle staff writer

Jenna Lyons contributed

to this report.

Kale Williams is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: kwilliams@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfkale