An Oakland girl allegedly texted a boy to buy marijuana. His friend came along and then killed her mother, police say
OAKLAND — Authorities here have determined the identity of the 16-year-old boy who was arrested and charged with murder in the death of a woman who confronted another teenager after learning he had sold marijuana vaping cartridges to her daughter, court records show.
The defendant, Ivan Gonzalez of Oakland, was charged as a minor, which virtually ensures that if convicted, he will not be incarcerated beyond his 25th birthday. A second defendant, 19-year-old Isaiah Gomez, was charged in adult court with accessory after the fact for allegedly driving Gonzalez away from the crime scene. Police also identified a 17-year-old boy as a suspect in the marijuana sale, but information on the charges against him was not immediately available.
The killing occurred on Aug. 7 after 33-year-old Maria Ramos pulled up next to a vehicle containing the three teens, got out and sprayed the interior with pepper spray, authorities said. Gonzalez allegedly got out of the car with a gun and shot Ramos multiple times, who was hit and died where she fell. She left behind eight children, relatives said.
The conflict began hours earlier when Ramos’ teenage daughter allegedly messaged an Instagram account about marijuana and later told police she had previously purchased vape pens from the teen. The boy arrived with two friends in the 5600 block of Hilton Street in East Oakland, and by that time Ramos had learned of the incident and was angry, authorities say.
Ramos confronted the teens as they tried to flee, then she and her daughter drove alongside them in an SUV, leading to the fatal confrontation, authorities said.
The shooting was captured on video and police were quickly able to identify the car involved. Undercover detectives found the vehicle in another part of town and tracked it to Gomez’s home, which was promptly searched by police. A Gomez family member reportedly told investigators that they knew Gonzalez’s family and that Gomez had confided in them that “Ivan” had shot someone that day, authorities said.
Gomez, who is now charged only with aiding and abetting, was released from prison but fitted with a GPS ankle bracelet. He will not be due back in court until October, records show. When questioned by police, Gomez admitted to driving the other two away from the crime scene, authorities said.
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