Teacher Killed in Downtown Oakland Shooting
Latetia Bobo, a 33-year-old English teacher, was killed in a mass shooting at a bar in Downtown Oakland. Police have since located the suspect's vehicle, a dark-colored Mazda SUV, which was found abandoned nearby as the investigation continues.
The shooting that killed Latetia Bobo occurred around 3:30 a.m. at EZ's Lounge on 14th Street during a popular monthly event known as First Fridays, which draws large crowds to downtown Oakland. The incident, which also resulted in the death of a 25-year-old man and injured five others, is believed to have started as an argument inside the club. Investigators have indicated that the seven people shot were likely innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire. Latetia "Teesh" Bobo was an 8th-grade English language arts teacher at Caliber: Beta Academy, a charter school in San Pablo. She was remembered by her school community as a deeply cherished educator who was special to students and families, and who did her work with "intention and heart." Beyond her teaching, Bobo was a creative artist, writer, singer, actress, and was deeply involved in her church community, where she led Bible studies. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Oakland police detained several individuals for questioning and recovered multiple firearms from the scene. However, as of the latest reports, it is unclear if any of the shooters have been formally arrested and no charges have been announced in connection with the killings. The investigation remains active as authorities piece together the events that led to the gunfire. While Oakland experienced a significant 52% drop in homicides over the two years leading up to 2025, the city continues to grapple with high rates of violent crime compared to other U.S. cities. The city's violent crime rate is more than five times the national average. East Oakland, in particular, has historically seen a disproportionate number of the city's homicides.
