Oakland Artist Shot Dead While Creating Public Peace Mural

“He was just an incredible spirit”, said Burke, an Oakland artist and educator.

The idyllic painting of trees, a creek and brightly colored Victorian houses contrasts sharply with the parts of West Oakland that are struggling to cope with drugs, poverty and violence.

Mayor Libby Schaaf and City Councilman Dan Kalb also expressed disbelief at the tragedy.

My husband and I are in shock; I can not imagine how this news is affecting his family. “Here are young folks trying to do something positive for the community, and this happens”. Ramos was painting as part of the the Oakland Super Heroes Mural Project on West Street between 35th and 36th Street when he was shot around 10:30 a.m., according to reports.

Attitudinal Healing Connection, a non-profit anti-violence organization, is producing the works.

According to a statement posted on the Oakland Superhero Mural Project’s Facebook page, Ramos joined the group in 2012 after noticing a wall painting in progress along San Pablo Avenue, not far from his home.

“Everybody’s devastated”, the mural project director for Art Esteem Amanda Harris told KRON 4. “He was really an awesome person who loved doing the work”.

Oakland Police Spokeswoman Johnna Watson said investigators are talking to witnesses and other muralists who were working alongside Ramos when gunfire erupted.

27-year-old Antonio Ramos of Emeryville was one volunteer of a team of 60 working on a 4,000-square-foot mural in conjunction with ArtEsteem, the literacy and art sector of community organizing group Attitudinal Healing Connection. On Tuesday, she said he brought a speaker to play music as he worked. “This was totally random”, he said. A year ago at this time there 56 homicides. Anyone with information is asked to call 510-238-3821. Muralists say they plan to paint Ramos’ picture at the very spot where he lost his life.

Oakland Mural Project-AHC from anna karrer manley on Vimeo. “The mural will get done, I’m confident about that”.

More than 100 grieving people attended a candlelight vigil for artist Antonio Ramos this morning at the West Oakland highway underpass where he was fatally shot on Tuesday while he was working on a mural aimed at uplifting the community.

“It’s not about the cape and the superpowers”. In light of the incident, the group urged the community to stand up and speak out against violence.