A heartbreaking and disturbing case out of California has taken a major turn.
A 26-year-old man has admitted to killing his teenage half-brother with a pickaxe in a brutal attack inside a shed behind their family home.
Zuberi Sharp pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree murder in the death of 15-year-old Zayde Koehohou, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
The tragedy unfolded on December 5, 2024, at the family’s home in Newbury Park. Prosecutors say the two brothers were inside a converted shed when their uncle, who was walking over to check on them, heard a loud “thud.”
When he entered, he was met with a horrifying scene.
Authorities say Sharp was standing over Zayde holding a pickaxe.
Zayde’s mother called 911 around 8 p.m., but before deputies arrived, Sharp fled the scene. Police later found him at a nearby high school, where he was reportedly naked and still holding the weapon.
Zayde, who had cerebral palsy, suffered severe head injuries and died before he could be saved.
Family members have since described the situation as deeply complicated. According to local reports, Sharp had a history of mental health struggles and had even been rescued from a storm drain just hours before the attack.
In an emotional interview after the tragedy, Zayde’s mother said her sons loved each other and suggested Sharp may not have understood what he was doing.
Sharp has now pleaded guilty not only to second-degree murder but also to special circumstances tied to the killing of a vulnerable victim.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 5.