Two men were charged with two counts of murder Tuesday for the brutal shooting deaths of two teenage girls near Brookdale Park in East Oakland three weeks ago.

Suspects Diantay Powell, 18, and Antonio Edwards, 19, both of Oakland, were scheduled to be arraigned that afternoon at the Wiley Manuel Courthouse in Oakland.

In addition to the two murder counts, they were both charged with the special circumstance of committing multiple murders, an allegation that could lead to the death penalty if they are convicted.

They are charged in connection with the deaths of 15-year-old Raquel Gerstel and 16-year-old Bobbie Sartain in the 2600 block of Minna Ave., near Brookdale, shortly before 6 a.m. Nov. 25.

The two girls were friends who grew up together in Alameda. Gerstel lived in San Leandro and was a freshman at Arroyo High School in San Lorenzo. Sartain lived on High St. in Oakland, a few blocks from where the shooting happened.

Oakland police provided few details on the case Tuesday but a woman who lives nearby and heard the shooting said police told residents that they found dozens of shell casings at the scene.