Families cry and demand answers after two people were killed and four others were injured in a series of shootings on weekends in Oakland.
Shops broke out early Saturday morning on the 18th street. About 45 minutes later, Oakland police said their Shotpotter tool had captured another shooting at 17th Street and San Pablo Avenue. Police who responded found Israel Miller Jr., 21, dying.
The father of the victim, Israel Miller Sr., spoke on Tuesday with the NBC Bay region from his family home in Alameda.
“Really difficult,” said Israel Sr. “no parent should bury their child. It is the most difficult thing I have ever dealt with.”
Israel Sr. said that his son, who left his own 3 -year -old son, was a good child who encountered problems growing up.
“He was fighting with demons as we are all,” said Israel Sr. “He was fighting with demons to be linked to the streets as well as wanting to do the right thing.”
The family said that Israel Jr. has attended a continuation school in Oakland. Israel Sr. also said that family challenges have made an already difficult increase a little more difficult.
“I know he wanted to try to make a difference in his life,” said Israel Sr. “I think he just made a mistake one night and it cost him his life.”
Israel Sr. thinks that social media has helped attract his son from the darker side of life. He now urges other parents to learn from his grief and to remain deeply involved in the lives of their children.
“Really involved in your children’s life and social media,” he said. “Keep an eye on what they glamorous. This is what these children do these days. They glamorous life in the streets.”
