Oakland homicide investigators have released the photograph of a man they're calling a "person of interest" in last week's fatal shooting of mural artist Antonio Ramos.
Ramos was shot last Tuesday morning, Sept. 29, while working on a mural at 35th and West streets in West Oakland. He was working with a group of other artists on the mural when he reportedly became involved in a verbal exchange with a passer-by.
Javier Rocabado was working near Ramos when the shooting took place. He told ABC7 last week there was no argument before the passer-by shot Ramos:
"Antonio never raised his voice. There was no altercation, there was nothing like that. It was just a guy, crazy, walking through here. He probably stole something or did something to the mural and Antonio was asking, 'Why did you do that?'"
Oakland detectives describe the person of interest, pictured above, as "an African-American male in his twenties, approximately 6 feet tall, with a thin build and dark complexion." Crime Stoppers of Oakland is offering a reward of as much as $10,000 for information leading to an arrest in the case.
Oakland police will take anonymous tips by text, phone or online:
- Text TIP OAKLANDPD to 888777 from your cell phone followed by your tip.
- Call a toll-free tip hotline at 855-TIPS-247 (855-847-7247).
- Submit a tip by web form – see the option at the bottom of OPD's Nixle messages or visit http://nixle.us/tip/oakland-police-department-ca/ to complete and send.
Ramos' killing, among roughly 66 homicides this year in Oakland, has provoked an outpouring of grief in the city and even prompted national coverage of its continuing challenges with street crime.