Mom executed by group of teenagers she suspected of selling drugs to her child after confronting them

August 19, 2024 Gloria Shaw

33-year-old Maria Ramos, a California mother of eight, was tragically gunned down by a group of teenagers in the middle of an Oakland street after confronting them for allegedly selling marijuana vape pens to one of her children.

The incident occurred on August 7, when Ramos, who had once battled drug addiction herself, was visiting her mother, Bianca Velasco, in Oakland.

The confrontation began when Ramos and her mother spotted a Toyota sedan near Velasco’s home, suspecting that the occupants were selling drug-infused e-cigarettes to local youth, including Ramos’ child. Velasco later explained their intention, saying, “Our plan was to tell them, stop coming to our house.”

Ramos and Velasco approached the car near the intersection of Hilton Street and Bancroft Avenue in Oakland. Street camera footage shows Ramos exiting the passenger side of her mother’s Toyota RAV4 and pepper-spraying into the teens’ vehicle.

The situation quickly escalated when two teenagers jumped out of the sedan, one of them pulling out a gun and firing at Ramos.

Ramos, who was visiting the Bay Area from Los Angeles, attempted to flee across the street, but the gunman continued shooting, also targeting Velasco, who managed to escape unharmed. The gunman then returned to the sedan, which drove away from the scene.

Velasco returned to find her daughter lying motionless on the side of the road.

Describing the heartbreaking moment, she said, “I started rubbing her chest and telling her, ‘Breathe, Lupita, breathe! Like, we still need you. You have 8 kids.’ And she tried.”

Ramos’ death has left a void in the lives of her family, particularly her eight children—seven daughters ranging in age from 1 to 15, and a 7-year-old son.

Velasco described her daughter as a loving and cheerful person, saying, “She was a very lovable person to her and her kids. Her kids were her world to her.”

Ramos’ aunt, Carmen Beltran, expressed deep sorrow and frustration over the senseless violence, urging a change in the lifestyle choices that lead to such tragedies.

“They should change the way they live over here. We don’t have to be killing people for no reason, you know? There’s another way to fix the problem. You have some problem with somebody, you don’t have to shoot nobody.”

The suspected gunman, a 16-year-old boy, was later arrested and charged with murder. Due to his age, his name has not been released, and he is currently being held at Alameda County Juvenile Hall.

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Alameda County prosecutors charged Isaiah Gomes, who is believed to have been the getaway driver, with an accessory to the shooting.