Man charged in the death of muralist shot while painting anti-violence art in Oakland

An anti-violence artist fatally shot while painting a mural in Oakland was killed with a gun stolen from a federal immigration agent, local media reported Wednesday.

In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Police Department Chief Greg Suhr said that when Oakland police investigated Antonio Ramos’ slaying, they found the murder weapon matched a gun reported stolen by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in San Francisco.

“We put the firearm in the system. When Oakland ran the firearm it came back to our auto burglary,� Suhr told the Chronicle.

ICE and San Francisco police officials confirmed the gun theft Wednesday.

“The theft was properly reported to local authorities and through official federal channels,� ICE said in a statement. “The matter is currently under investigation by ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility.�

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San Francisco police officials said the gun was stolen Sept. 13 between 7:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. near 2nd and South Park streets while the agent was away from his SUV.

Someone smashed the passenger-side front window and stole the agent’s Glock handgun and other personal items, police said.

Sometime after that, authorities say the weapon ended up in the hands of Oakland resident Marquese Holloway.

Holloway, 20, was charged Tuesday with one count of murder, two counts of attempted robbery and three separate robbery charges, according to the Alameda County Superior Court criminal complaint.

He was arrested Friday in Stockton by U.S. Marshals in connection with a string of robberies in late September and early October. He’s accused of robbing two separate groups who had been filming on Oct. 5 in Oakland, according to his arrest warrant.

That same day, Oakland police released a surveillance photograph of Holloway, describing him as person of interest in the death of Ramos.

Ramos was painting a mural under a 580 Freeway overpass that was designed to send a message about eliminating violence through education and art when he was shot once on Sept. 29. He died at a hospital.

The Emeryville artist was working on a project led by the Attitudinal Healing Connection. He and a group of other artists had been painting a mural conceptualized by middle-school students in West Oakland.

For the project, the students had re-imagined themselves as superheroes to help solve issues in their communities.

The 4,000-square-foot mural was the third of six art pieces by the Oakland Superheroes Mural Project, a community effort aimed at eradicating violence by educating and engaging Oakland youth through art.

Ramos’ death deeply affected fellow muralists, who enlisted extra security because of concerns that they were being targeted.

The group urged the community to stand up to violence, saying Ramos’ death was the result of “senseless gun violence that continues to plague our communities.�

For breaking news in California, follow @JosephSerna and @VeronicaRochaLA

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