Heartbreak in Oakland: Community Mourns Beloved Teacher and Devoted Father Lost in Tragic Shooting

Two people died in the aftermath of the 7 March mass shooting that left Oakland communities in mourning.

Oakland police identified Latetia Bobo, 33, and Markise Martin, 25, as the two people killed in the shooting incident at EZ's Lounge on 7 March. Five other people were also shot, but are now in stable conditions, according to The Guardian.

A witness said they heard people panicking shortly after the shooting, which started at around 3:00am. 'I didn't even hear the gun shots, I just heard like 100 people running,' Kuzi, a tattoo artist, told KTVU. 'There were a lot of people crying, screaming, the whole street was blocked off.'

Mass Shooting Claims Two Victims in Its Wake

Responders found seven people with gunshot wounds, including Bobo, who died at the scene, and Martin, who was taken to the hospital. Martin succumbed to his injuries later that morning.

Friends, family, and the larger community mourned Bobo and Martin's deaths. Colleagues remembered Bobo as 'an incredible educator and an even more incredible human being who truly valued relationships and community.' 'Her presence brought unmistakable light to our campus, and she will be deeply missed by all of us,' the Caliber public school district said in a statement.

Bobo was engaged to be married before the incident. 'She was just talking about her fiance, and now she's gone,' Robin DeGarcia, a parent whose children were Bobo's eighth-grade students, told CBS San Francisco. 'I'm angry. Not that anyone ever deserves it, but she definitely didn't deserve it,' she lamented.

Martin's family remembered him as a 'loving son, a devoted father to his one-year-old daughter, and a kind, protective brother.'

'He was always there for his family when needed, offering support and love without hesitation,' the family wrote in Martin's GoFundMe campaign. 'His presence brought comfort and strength to those around him, and he was truly such a caring soul underneath his tough exterior.'

Official Urges for Vigilance Against Gun Violence

Oakland City Council member Carroll Fife found the incident alarming, especially after the city recently ramped up measures to prevent gun violence. In 2025, the city recorded its lowest homicide rate for the past five decades, according to The Guardian. Part of that is credited to Operation Ceasefire, a program that provides social support to people at risk of gun violence.

'It's tragic,' Fife said in an Instagram post. 'Oakland deserves to have venues where people don't have to worry whether they're going to come home or not. Everyone should be able to live, laugh and love all parts of Oakland without fear. We're discussing ways to deal with private parties, street closures, a host of existing laws and new ones.'

Persons of Interest Have Been Arrested

Oakland police confirmed they have apprehended persons of interest. 'Officers detained multiple individuals at the scene and recovered several firearms,' they said in a statement. 'Investigators from the OPD homicide division are conducting a follow-up investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.'

Authorities have yet to release information about what sparked the shooting incident.