This site displays photos of makeshift memorials that spontaneously arise after individuals are killed by violence in Oakland. Each site of a killing is photographed whether or not a memorial is found there....

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Juan Chales, #14

Juan Chales, 30
Killed 2/18/07 7:00 am
3700 block of San Leandro St
Stabbing


2 comments:

Chris Magnuson said...

Nic,
Nice site. My friend and I are currently doing a small art project for the homicides in Oakland, and I was wondering where you get your information from. I was having a terrible time finding info like Tammy Anderson's name. Do you mind disclosing your sources? I'm trying to keep up on this myself at chrismagnuson.blogspot.com

Thanks,

Chris

Anonymous said...

Man fatally stabbed in Fruitvale
Police search for clues in slaying of day laborer
, FROM STAFF REPORTS
Posted: 02/19/2007 02:37:47 AM PST
Updated: 02/19/2007 02:43:48 AM PST


OAKLAND — A man on his way to look for work in a day labor hiring zone in the Fruitvale district Sunday morning was stabbed to death by a man who demanded money before attacking him, police said.
Investigators said they are not sure yet whether the attack on Juan Chales, 30, is part of a recent trend of robberies known as "amigo checking" or if he was targeted for another reason.

"Amigo checking" refers to crimes committed by people who think their victims might be illegal immigrants reluctant to report crimes to police for fear of deportation. It was not known Sunday whether Chales was an illegal immigrant.

Police said the attack happened about 7 a.m. Sunday on the 3700 block of San Leandro Street as Chales was walking to a city-sanctioned "day labor hiring zone" on San Leandro Street from 37th Avenue to High Street.

Chales lived with two brothers and two roommates a few blocks from where he was attacked, police said.

Homicide Sgt. Dom Arotzarena said Chaleswas confronted on the north sidewalk by a man on a bicycle with a knife, who demanded his money. But before Chales could comply, the man stabbed him, Arotzarena said. Chales made it across the street before collapsing in front of an auto repair shop.

The suspect fled without taking anything from Chales, said Arotzarena, who is investigating the case with Sgt. Lou Cruz.

Chales lay bleeding for about 30 minutes before a man driving by saw him and called police. He was taken to


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Advertisement

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highland Hospital, where he died a short time later.
Chales was a native of Guatemala who had been in the United States about a year.

A friend of his told police that he was a day laborer who would do "any kind of work."

The suspect is described as a dark-skinned Latino man 20 to 22 years old, about 5 feet 6 inches tall with a medium build, who was wearing a gray sweat shirt.

The homicide was Oakland's 14th of the year.

Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to

$10,000 in reward money for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with information can call police at 238-3821 or Crime Stoppers at 238-6946.

Police want to question anyone with information about the crime and will not ask about a person's residency status.

"The Oakland Police Department does not care about a person's residency status when we are investigating any felony, particularly a sad killing like this," Cruz said.