Vigil Held For Oakland Toddlers Killed By Recent Violence
OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- A candlelight vigil was held Friday night in honor of two young Oakland boys—Hiram Lawrence Jr. and Carlos Nava—who have been killed in gun violence in the city in recent months.
Hiram, who would have turned two on December 28, died last week from injuries he suffered in a mass shooting in West Oakland on November 28.
He was among seven people who were injured when attackers opened fire on a crowd of people outside a liquor store in the 700 block of Willow Street shortly after 6 p.m. on November 28. A local rapper had just finished filming a music video there.
Hiram Jr. was shot in the head. He was taken off life support at Children's Hospital in Oakland and declared dead last Friday after doctors said he had no brain function.
Police detained six people on unrelated charges but haven't made any arrests in connection with the shooting.
A service for Hiram Jr. was held at the Acts Full Gospel Church at 1034 66th Avenue in Oakland, Friday. Mourners at the ceremony included Mayor Jean Quan, who was one of about 50 people who addressed the crowd.
Carlos was killed by a stray bullet in the 6400 block of International Boulevard on Aug. 8 in what police said was a drive-by shooting in which two adult males were the intended targets.
Two suspects have been arrested and charged with murder for the shooting.
Friday night's vigil, organized by Mothers Against Murder, was held in the parking lot of 707 Willow St. in Oakland, the location where Hiram Jr. was shot.
The vigil's organizers said they held the event "to stand up against violence and the senseless murders of the two babies in Oakland this year."
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