Police search for gunman who killed Oakland muralist

“It’s a shocking moment”. “He donated his time, his energy, his talent”, said Javier Rocabado. “I saw my friend standing up and getting shot and next thing he’s on the floor dying for nothing”. Witnesses claim the assailant appeared to be a total stranger to Ramos; an investigation is now taking place to uncover the specifics of what led up to the homicide. He was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. “He was really an awesome person who loved doing the work”. But we were all working, and it happened in a moment.

Called “Self as Superhero”, the mural was about superheroes in the local community and was designed by middle schoolers in the area.

“He loved the messages and images envisioned by the students being spread throughout the community”, the group said. At this time, they have not identified a suspect in the death of the artist shot in Oakland or the victim found in the plastic sheet.

“The premise of these projects is to promote peace and live in our communities”. “Help us take a stand against violence in Oakland”.

Rocabado could only describe the man as a “slender” black male in his late 20s to early 30s, who is six feet tall and wearing black trousers and a black sweatshirt.

He didn’t know what the man had done to prompt Ramos to question him.

“The value of life has gone down” said Marcus Norris, who has known Ramos since childhood. “I hope they finish it”. Violent crime in the area historically has been above average.

The mural, under an Interstate 580 overpass, illustrates an idyllic scene of West Oakland, with vibrantly-colored Victorian houses amid a tree-lined street and a creek. It was just a guy, crazy, walking through here.

This mural was the 3 in a series of 6 which are planned. The public art project depicts a young boy who uses “the healing power of music” to help uplift his community, said mural art director David Burke. “We are bringing beauty and art, love and light”, Harris said.

“From that day on he was working on the project every day”, the group said.

Attitudinal Healing Connection, a non-profit anti-violence organization, is producing the works. Amana Harris runs the nonprofit that oversees the mural project. “There’s a million and one reasons why he was a good fit”.

He said the man put what he thinks was a gun in the waistband of his trousers, although he didn’t actually see a gun.

Gay artist Javier Rocabado, of Richmond, designed the mural.