David Manson Jr

David Manson Jr., a 17-year-old African American male, was fatally shot on June 2, 2013, during a brazen daytime shooting in East Oakland, California. The violence erupted at approximately 1:45 p.m. in the 9100 block of International Boulevard, near 90th Avenue, outside a neighborhood store. What began as an ordinary Sunday afternoon quickly turned into a terrifying scene as a masked gunman opened fire on a group of people gathered along the street. David was killed in the attack, while two other individuals were wounded.

According to witness accounts and news reports, the gunman was wearing a ski mask when he approached the area and began firing multiple shots. People scattered in different directions, desperately attempting to escape the gunfire. Surveillance footage captured the horrifying sequence of events, showing the attacker firing toward the fleeing crowd before approaching David, who was lying on the sidewalk. The gunman then fired several additional shots at him from point-blank range. The deliberate nature of the final shots made the killing particularly disturbing, raising questions about whether David had been specifically targeted.

Emergency personnel responded to the shooting, but David's injuries were fatal, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Another male who had been with him was also struck by gunfire and transported to a hospital in critical condition. A woman, believed to have been an innocent bystander, suffered gunshot wounds that authorities described as non-life-threatening. The shooting left investigators attempting to determine what prompted the violence and whether the victims had been intentionally targeted or caught in a broader confrontation.

David's killing occurred during an especially violent weekend in Oakland, when numerous shootings left residents increasingly concerned about public safety. His death was recorded as Oakland's 43rd homicide of 2013. The fact that the shooting occurred in broad daylight, along a busy commercial corridor where pedestrians and shoppers were present, intensified concerns about the escalating violence. The attack also attracted national attention after surveillance footage revealed the gunman's actions.

Friends and acquaintances remembered David as someone whose life had been cut tragically short. He had attended Oakland High School in 2011 and was known to students at McClymonds High School who lived in East Oakland. One student, Monte Smith, remembered David as a friendly person and expressed disbelief that he had been killed so openly during the afternoon. In the days following the shooting, mourners placed flowers, candles, and handwritten remembrance cards near the location where he lost his life. The memorial became a visible expression of grief among those who knew him and others troubled by the violence affecting Oakland's youth.

Oakland police launched a homicide investigation and examined available evidence, including surveillance footage from businesses near the shooting. Initial witness accounts described the suspect as wearing a ski mask, but authorities did not immediately release a detailed physical description or identify a possible suspect. Investigators also faced unanswered questions about the motive, including whether the shooting stemmed from an earlier dispute or another circumstance. Although the footage provided important evidence of how the crime unfolded, the shooter's concealed identity complicated efforts to establish who was responsible.

By June 5, 2013, authorities had not announced any arrests connected to David's murder. Available subsequent reporting does not establish that a suspect was publicly identified, arrested, charged, tried, or convicted in connection with his death. The current official status of the investigation could not be independently confirmed, and no verified resolution has been located.

David Manson Jr.'s death remains a painful example of the gun violence that affected Oakland during 2013. His killing took place in full daylight, with witnesses nearby and security cameras recording the attack, yet the identity of the person responsible has not been established in the available public reporting. Beyond the circumstances of the shooting, David was a young person whose family, friends, and community were left grieving a life ended before adulthood. His story reflects both the devastating consequences of a single act of violence and the continuing importance of obtaining answers and accountability for those affected by his death.