Late Saturday night into early Sunday morning, what should have been just another night out in downtown Oakland turned into a tragedy that left a schoolteacher and a young father dead and sent others to the hospital. Around 3:30 a.m., gunfire ripped through EZ’s Lounge on 14th Street near Broadway, leaving seven people struck by bullets. Two of those struck did not survive.
The first to be identified was 33‑year‑old Latetia Bobo. Friends, family and her community in San Pablo remember her as a devoted eighth‑grade English teacher at Caliber Beta Academy who brought light and encouragement into every room she entered. She died at the scene, her life cut short amid noise, celebration and dreams that had nothing to do with violence.
Also killed was 25‑year‑old Markise Martin, a Stockton man described by loved ones as a loving son, a devoted father to his little girl and someone whose presence offered comfort to those around him. He was taken to a hospital after the shooting but later died from his injuries.
Five other people who were hit by gunfire were rushed to local hospitals and stabilized. Police officers on the scene detained multiple individuals for questioning and recovered several firearms, though no arrests have been made and the motive for the shooting remains unknown. Investigators are still piecing together what sparked the violence that early morning.
The loss of Bobo has shaken her school community. Colleagues have paused classes to grieve her passing and honor her legacy, noting her dedication not only to teaching but to building relationships and inspiring curiosity in her students. Parents and students alike speak of her smile and the strength she offered in every lesson and conversation.
Martin’s family has begun to share their grief publicly as well. In messages shared through friends, they have spoken of the hole his absence leaves in the lives of those who relied on his steady support, especially his young daughter who will now grow up without her father’s embrace.
Oakland residents and business owners near the lounge say the scene that Saturday night was chaotic and frightening. What had been a packed street with music and laughter devolved in moments into a scene of sirens, fear and confusion. Neighbors and visitors now find themselves asking how safety in nightlife districts can be improved so that nights out don’t end in such heartbreak.
For now, investigators continue their work. Police have urged anyone with information that could help bring clarity to come forward as the city mourns two lives that were taken far too soon and supports those wounded by gunfire that morning.
