Death of man found in McLaren Park ruled a homicide

A body found in McLaren park was found to be that of a San Leandro man. (Examiner file photo)

SAN FRANCISCO — Police on Thursday confirmed that the death of a San Leandro man whose body was found July 6 buried in San Francisco's McLaren Park has been ruled a homicide.

Police spokesman Sgt. Wilfred Williams said that Omar Sharif Allah's death was a murder, but declined to discuss details of the case or
say whether any suspects have been identified.

San Francisco Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Amy Hart said that the cause of death is still being investigated, and that a determination might
not be made for several weeks.

Police also declined to discuss how Allah, who went missing in October 2007, might have died.

He would have been 33 years old this year, according to Hart.

A Recreation and Park Department crew found Allah's body at about 10:30 a.m. near a homeless encampment at Sunnydale and Persia avenues, in a hilly area on the western side of the park.

The crew made the discovery after spotting a leg sticking out from beneath a blue tarp. Police were notified and excavated the entire body.

Williams said investigators are "not absolutely sure" when Allah's body was buried at the park, but said it could have been soon after he went missing.

According to Alameda County court records, Allah had convictions for driving under the influence and driving without a license in 1997, and
for marijuana possession and driving with a revoked license in 2001.

In 2003, under the name Delvin Threat, he was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

In that case, Oakland police arrested him after a pursuit during which he threw an unregistered semiautomatic handgun with the serial number removed from his car. Officers found two ski masks, duct tape and a gun dealer's business cards in the car.