Oakland: Mourners gather at vigil for slain mural artist

Meanwhile, the group will continue to honor Ramos by finishing the mural on Monday.

The mural, the third of six underpass murals being produced in the Interstate 580 corridor by ArtEsteem, the art-and-literacy arm of Attitudinal Healing Connection.

“We have to take a stand and say we will not allow this to happen in our community”, Harris said.

“We’re devastated”, David Burke, the mural project’s art director, told the Tribune. He escaped before police arrived on the scene and is still at large. As their disagreement escalated, the gunman shot the muralist and ran away, police said.

Police have not provided a detailed description of the suspect.

Police are interviewing witnesses, including artists who were with the victim, and will review footage from surveillance cameras in the area, Watson said.

An investigation is underway after a fatal shooting in Northwest Miami-Dade, early Wednesday morning.

The neighborhood where Ramos was killed has its share of similar problems, including “homicides that have no rhyme or reason”, said Marilyn Washington Harris, a community activist and founder of the Oakland-based Khadafy Washington Foundation for Non-Violence.

“He kept walking past it every day, and he finally asked if he could help out”, Clottey said.

Ramos joined the Oakland Superheros in 2012 and was considered to be an incredibly positive spirit. “Oakland is a special place, and the community is mourning over Antonio’s death”.

“These aren’t superheroes with capes that we’re used to”. AHC is still raising funds for this particular mural. “My heart goes out to his family”. According to the OaklandMofo website, there have been three murders in West Oakland during the month of September.

Ramos worked on that painting on San Pablo Avenue and was just starting to paint the current project. “Instead of sitting around talking about doing stuff, he just did it”. “There was no time to react”, said Burke.

Ramos was part of a group of about 10 artists working on the Oakland Super Heroes Mural Project being produced by Attitudinal Healing Connection, a West Oakland group that seeks to stop violence by inspiring people with art and education. “Not only is he a talented artist, he brings a light to everyone around him”.