CrimeWatch

BERKELEY (CBS 5 / BCN) ― Even though they have made an arrest, police on Sunday were asking for additional witnesses to come forward with information about a fight early Saturday morning that led to the murder of a University of California, Berkeley student.

Christopher Wootton, a 21-year-old engineering senior due to graduate this month, was fatally stabbed by Berkeley resident Andrew Thomas Hoeft-Edenfield, 20, around 2:45 a.m. Saturday, according to Berkeley police Sgt. Mary Kusmiss.

Hoeft-Edenfield, who has no affiliation with UC Berkeley, was arrested later that day after he admitted to stabbing someone during the fight, Kusmiss said.

Officers responded to a report of a stabbing in the 2400 block of Warring Street, where they found Wootton surrounded by a group of about 20 college-aged males and suffering a stab wound to the left side of his upper chest, Kusmiss said.

Wootton was transported to a local trauma center where he was pronounced dead.

Detectives interviewed about six witnesses Saturday who identified Hoeft-Edenfield as the suspect, according to Kusmiss.

"A couple witnesses who had been at a party with (Hoeft-Edenfield) earlier in the evening (and) who knew his first name were able to describe him to detectives," Kusmiss said.

Detectives contacted Hoeft-Edenfield, who willingly came to the Police Department to discuss his involvement in the fight and "eventually admitted to being the one with the knife... (Though) he was not certain who in fact he had stabbed, he recognized that he had stabbed somebody," Kusmiss said. "That statement provided enough probable cause to arrest him for murder."

Around 3 p.m. Saturday, Hoeft-Edenfield was arrested for one count of murder and booked into City of Berkeley Jail, according to Kusmiss.

Police are focused now on piecing together more details of the fight that led to Wootton's death. "We would like the answers to solidify the 'Why?'" Kusmiss said.

Police determined the incident started as a verbal exchange between Hoeft-Edenfield and at least two UC Berkeley male students, and quickly escalated into a physical fight involving approximately 15 more students and one or two of Hoeft-Edenfield's friends, according to Kusmiss.

Wootton somehow became involved in the physical fight and was subsequently stabbed by Hoeft-Edenfield, Kusmiss said.

"We know a handful of members of the physical fight ... have not come forward as of yet," Kusmiss said. "Many of them dashed off as the police were arriving.

"We...encourage other witnesses to come forward who could provide more of the pieces, details of the exchange and subsequent fight," Kusmiss said. "There are many cases of violent crimes where witnesses for a variety of reasons are reluctant to come forward. This is a case where the arrest was really due to those witnesses who came forward. They should be applauded."

Wootton, a Bellflower, Calif., resident, served as vice president of the Sigma Pi fraternity his junior year, and was the fraternity's pledge educator this year, according to UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau.

Wootton planned to study nuclear engineering in graduate school at UC Berkeley following his graduation this month, Birgeneau said.

"This futile and senseless killing is a loss felt by us all, including his teachers, friends and especially his fraternity brothers at Sigma Pi," Birgeneau said.

Wootton is survived by his father and brother, according to Kusmiss.

Classes at UC Berkeley were to continue Monday as scheduled, according to Marie Felde, a campus spokeswoman. University Health Services at the Tang Center would provide counseling for students, faculty and staff. She said students may contact Counseling and Psychological Services at (510) 642-9494, and faculty and staff may contact CARE Services at (510) 643-7754.

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