OAKLAND, CA – In a tragic incident that has shaken a local community, a 33-year-old mother of eight children lost her life following a confrontation with alleged drug dealers. Authorities report the fatal shooting occurred last week on a residential Oakland street, shedding light on the dangers of neighborhood crime.

Maria Ramos, according to her mother, Blanca Velasco, was visiting from Los Angeles with her children when a dispute turned lethal. She was reportedly tailing a car believed to be associated with individuals who had sold marijuana vapes to two of her grandchildren. After confronting the individuals in the vehicle, Ramos was shot multiple times and succumbed to her wounds at the scene.

Heartbroken, Velasco shared the harrowing details of her daughter’s last moments. With her grandchildren’s safety in mind, Velasco attempted to use her vehicle as a shield during the confrontation. “I just saw her taking off and I just heard the bang,” Velasco revealed, describing the chaos that ensued.

The Oakland Police Department has taken several people into custody in connection with the killing as they work to uncover more details about the events leading to Ramos’ death.

Loss and disbelief permeate the family as Velasco grapples with the sudden void left by her daughter’s passing—along with the guardianship of her eight now-motherless grandchildren, ranging in age from 1 to 15. Plans for a future together have been tragically upended by this act of violence.

As the investigation continues, this incident magnifies the ongoing concerns about drug-related violence and its devastating impact on families in urban communities.