Vigil planned for Oakland muralist fatally shot working on project
OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - A vigil was held Wednesday for an artist who was shot to death in Oakland while painting a mural designed by students.
Antonoio Ramos, 27, was collaborating with other artists on a 4,000 square foot mural at an underpass when he was gunned down Tuesday.
Fellow artists were in shock after having just seen one of their collaborators gunned down.
"The last place you would expect this to happen," said David Platford, who was one of a group of painters who witnessed the shooting.
It happened about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday morning under the Interstate Highway 580 overpass on West Street near 35th Street.
It was where artists from the community-based program ArtEsteem were painting a mural on a graffiti scarred wall, a mural designed by middle school students.
Witnesses said a man began arguing with one of the artists.
"We were all just busy painting, and before we knew it, we heard gunshots," said Platford.
Police say the gunman ran off while the artist, later identified as Ramos, lay dying.
"He was just an amazing spirit. And he was just out here because he loved painting and he loved being out here in the community," said ArtEsteem representative David Burke.
Police officers also seemed shaken by what had happened and are looking for answers.
"How did it come to be that a person felt the need to solve their differences in a simple argument by using a firearm in the middle of a busy intersection in broad daylight?" said Oakland homicide investigator Lt. Roland Holmgen.
Oakland Police Chief Sean Whent said the fatal shooting was "really tragic" and "totally unacceptable."
Whent said Ramos was "someone who was trying to make a positive difference in this city and lost his life."
The artists were working on the mural as part of its Oakland Super Heroes Mural Project. They had raised the money and middle school students designed the mural. The artists had been working on it for more than a week.
They have already created three other murals of the six planned for the project.
Police are interviewing witnesses, including artists who were with the victim, and will review footage from surveillance cameras in the area, Oakland police spokeswoman Johnna Watson said.
"This is a busy area with a mix of commercial and residential buildings so we hope someone saw something," she said.
ArtEsteem is the art and literacy arm of Attitudinal Healing Connection, a West Oakland Group that seeks to stop violence by inspiring people with art and education.
"Attitudinal Healing Connection is one of the most heartfelt organizations in the city and provides hope and opportunity for young people and I know their people well," said Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf. "Every loss of life is tragic and I had a very tragic heart when I learned about this."
The artists say, despite what happened Tuesday, they have no intention of stopping work on the project.
"We have to keep doing this work. This incident is why we are out here in the first place," said Burke.
The middle school students who designed the mural had planned to come and paint part of it Wednesday. It is uncertain whether that field trip will be postponed.
ArtEsteem is raising funds to complete the remaining murals through an online Indiegogo campaign.
Meanwhile, a crowdfunding site has been set up for Ramos' family.