Teen and adult charged in dispute over marijuana vape sales that left Oakland mother of eight dead

OAKLAND — A 16-year-old boy has been charged with murder and a 19-year-old man has been charged as an accessory in the Aug. 7 fatal shooting of an East Oakland mother of eight who had confronted them about selling marijuana vapes to some of her young relatives, according to authorities and court records.

The suspects, who police say are friends, were charged in the death of Maria Ramos, 33, who was fatally shot around 2:20 p.m. Aug. 7 in the 5600 block of Hilton Street.

The name of the suspected shooter is not being released because of his age. He is being held at the Alameda County Juvenile Detention Center.

The man accused of being an accessory to the crime is Isaías Gómez, who is out of custody according to jail records.

According to authorities, the initial confrontation occurred in the 2000 block of 57th Avenue, where Ramos, who lived in Southern California, and his children were visiting his mother and other relatives.

The two accused suspects and a second juvenile were in a vehicle driven by Gomez when they initially got into a confrontation with Ramos and his mother after the second juvenile sold some marijuana vapes to some of his younger relatives, authorities said. Authorities said it does not appear Ramos knew the three.

Gomez drove away and Ramos and her mother followed in a vehicle to the 5600 block of Hilton Street, where the suspects stopped, authorities said. The 16-year-old girl got out of the vehicle with a gun in her hand and Ramos was shot as she tried to flee on foot, authorities said.

The three suspects fled in the vehicle.

According to court documents, surveillance footage recovered from the shooting area provided the license plate number of the fleeing vehicle. It was spotted, with Gomez at the wheel, later that day by undercover officers. Police followed Gomez to his home, not far from where the shooting occurred, and arrested him.

The 16-year-old was arrested hours later at his Oakland home and the gun believed to have been used in the killing was recovered, authorities confirmed.

The young man suspected of selling the vapes was arrested the same day but released after questioning. That person has not been charged with the murder, according to authorities.

Originally published: August 15, 2024 at 10:28 am

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