California muralist shot, killed while working on anti-violence project; police seek shooter

OAKLAND, Calif. — An artist was shot and killed in Oakland while he was helping to paint a street-side mural for a group that works to spread peace and stop violence, authorities said.

Police spokeswoman Johnna Watson said Wednesday officers were searching for the shooter as friends mourned Antonio Ramos, 27, during a vigil at the mural site.

Watson said an argument led to the shooting Tuesday at the site under an Interstate 580 overpass in West Oakland.

Ramos was among about 10 artists who were working on project. He reportedly quarreled with a man who wasn't part of the group. It escalated, and the man shot Ramos and ran away, police said. No one else was injured.

Watson declined to release further details about the crime while the investigation is ongoing.

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.

Oakland has had 73 homicides this year, and many have happened on the western end of the city.

"I think this is an isolated incident," said Aeeshah Clottey, one of the founders of Attitudinal Healing Connection of Oakland, a group that seeks to stop violence by inspiring people with art and education. The 25-year-old organization was sponsoring the mural project.

Clottey said Ramos started volunteering with the group in 2012 after being inspired by its work on a student-designed mural.

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

Ramos worked on that painting on San Pablo Avenue and was just starting to paint the current project.

"He was a very nice person," Clottey said. She referred further questions to his mother, who was not immediately available for comment Wednesday.