Who killed Gene Ransom? Basketball icon, 65, shot dead in road rage incident in Oakland
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA: Former college basketball star Gene Ransom was fatally shot in Oakland, California in an apparent road rage incident. The 65-year-old Berkley basketball icon was found dead in his car around 5:15 pm on Friday, February 4. According to the Oakland Fire Department, Ransom was most likely shot while driving the car, causing a crash in the middle of Interstate 880 in Oakland.
California Highway Patrol (CHP) later arrested Juan Angel Garcia, 25, on suspicion of Ransom's murder. The San Francisco native was driving alongside Ransom and targeted him out of road rage. He allegedly pulled up on the left side of Ransom's car and opened fire at him, eventually causing his death. Garcia has been charged with murder and is currently being held at Alameda County Jail. He is scheduled to appear in court on February 9, 2022. Meanwhile, CHP revealed that Ransom was driving a black Honda civic while Garcia was northward-bound in a black Lexus.
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In the past four months, Oakland has recorded at least four incidents of fatal shooting, including the death of a two-year-old infant from a stray bullet. According to Ransom's friend and former teammate Doug Harris, the 65-year-old was driving to the West Oakland train station to pick up his girlfriend. She was reportedly "waiting for him to pick her up and not knowing that he had been murdered." Harris further noted, "The very thing we worked so hard to prevent for our young people, he has been a victim of, so this is really hard for me."
Following his tragic death, his son Thaxter Ransom released a statement in memory of his father. "My father was and still is a great man, he was a major influence in the East Bay Area community. He showed love to everyone he met and came across sometimes as a flirt. That was him Gene 'the dream' Ransom. He opened the door for future basketball stars who came out of the Bay Area. He was looked up to and loved by many. I'll never forget him, and will always love him," he shared in a heartfelt tribute.
Ransom happened to be a point guard for California Berkeley, who averaged over 30 points per game at the peak of his career between 1976 and 1978. He was even drafted by the Golden State Warriors though he never made his NBA debut for various reasons.
The University of California at Berkeley issued a statement on his tragic death noting, "We are shocked to hear the reports that Cal Athletics Hall of Famer Gene Ransom has been identified as a victim in a deadly freeway shooting. Our thoughts are with Gene's family and friends for this tragic loss. Gene was one of the greatest players in our men's basketball program's history, and he will be greatly missed."
Besides being a basketball star, Ransom was well-revered in the Bay Area as a community leader. He had been engaged with Athletes United for Peace for the past two decades.