Bryan Keith Hall, 48, pleaded not guilty to the killing of 40-year-old parole agent Joshua Byrd and waived his right to a preliminary hearing. Hall appeared shackled and in jail attire while dozens of state parole officers observed the hearing. Authorities say Byrd was shot on July 17 inside the Division of Adult Parole Operations office on Edgewater Drive after Hall signed in and was told to leave because his parole officer was not present. Hall was seen fleeing the building holding a gun and three shell casings were recovered at the scene. Investigators have not determined a motive, and the incident raised questions about security at the parole facility.
Bryan Keith Hall, 48, stood silently while his public defender entered the plea before Alameda County Superior Court Judge Michael T. Risher. Shackled and appearing in green-and-white striped jail attire, Hall said only "yes," and "I do," when asked whether he wanted to waive his right to a preliminary hearing in the coming coming weeks, and whether he understood he had that right.
On July 17, Byrd was working in the Division of Adult Parole Operations office on Edgewater Drive when Hall walked in and asked to talk to his parole agent. Hall's arrival came a day after he missed a scheduled meeting with his parole agent. Hall signed in at about 12:40 p.m. that day, but was told to leave the building, because his parole officer was not there, according to court records.
At some point after that, Byrd was shot and Hall was seen fleeing the building and holding a gun, court records show. Police found three shell casings at the crime scene, authorities said. A motive for the shooting remained unclear Friday. Hall appeared to use a gun he brought to the facility, according to the California Highway Patrol - raising questions about security measures at a building where parolees routinely check in with their parole officers.
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