Man, 60, shot dead in Oakland while confronting catalytic-converter thieves
OAKLAND, Calif. - A man was shot and killed early Tuesday while confronting catalytic-converter thieves outside his home in Oakland's Glenview neighborhood.
Family members identified the victim as Arturo Coronado, 60.
"You already had the catalytic converter. Why did you shoot my dad?" asked Coronado's daughter Amalya Love through tears.
The shooting happened at about 4 a.m. near Everett Avenue and Hampel Street in the normally quiet neighborhood off Park Boulevard.
"I heard some grinding, like metal on metal," said neighbor Michael Cusick.
The thieves had cut off one of two catalytic converters on Coronado's Toyota Sequoia.
Coronado kept saying, "Hey! Hey!" Cusick said. "I heard the pop and then about two seconds later, they sped off."
Victor Gonzales, another neighbor said, "I heard the yelling and then I just saw the gun point out the window and shoot three times and the car took off."
Coronado was shot and killed at his doorway. His SUV was towed for evidence.
For 25 years, Coronado worked for general contractor Justin Dawson,
"He was like, he'd do anything for anybody," Dawson said. "He would never hurt anybody."
Gonzales said, "It's disgusting. It's just a sign of desperation right now around us. And I'm sad he lost his life. I wish he had just let it go."
The victim's daughter said her father had stopped other thieves in the past from stealing his tools.
"Usually he'll tell them to stop. This time, they shot him," she said.
Cusick said, ‘I think that was probably more instinct. He probably didn’t realize the gravity of what they could potentially do to him."
Love said, "He was everything I could have asked for in a dad. Given the circumstances that we grew up in, he did his best to be the best dad."
Councilmember Sheng Thao said, "What we need is to get more homicide and criminal investigations and investigators immediately so that we get this small group of people who are pulling the triggers to make sure that they are off our streets immediately."
Less than 24 hours earlier, 60-year-old Louis Truehill was killed on Monday at 3 p.m. He was the city's 100th homicide victim.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and other prosecutors are convening Tuesday in Oakland to discuss how to reduce the number of murders and shootings.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Homicide Section at (510) 238-3821 or the TIP LINE at 238-7950. Candace Keas #4777