Ernesto Ortega, 62, of Oakland, California, was shot and killed in the early hours of May 7, 2021. Officers responded to a report of a person on the ground in the 2300 block of 55th Avenue at about 12:42 a.m.; Ortega was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead at the scene.

Police confirmed the death was caused by a gunshot. No immediate arrests were made, and investigators said the case faced challenges from a lack of eyewitnesses and concrete leads. The Oakland Police Department canvassed the area for witnesses and continued to follow up on tips while urging the public for information.

Ortega’s family and friends were left grieving as the investigation remained open. Does anyone who was in the 2300 block of 55th Avenue on May 7, 2021, or who remembers hearing or seeing anything that night, have information to share with investigators?