A Mother's Vigil: The Unsolved Murder of Isaiah "Whiteboi" Sudan and a Community's Call for Peace

A Tragic Night on 54th Street

On the evening of June 5, 2014, the quiet of Oakland's 54th Street was shattered by gunfire. Phyllis Smith, seated in her usual chair, heard the shots and rushed to her front door, only to find her 22-year-old son, Isaiah "Whiteboi" Sudan, collapsing in the doorway, bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite her desperate attempts to save him, Isaiah took his last breath in his mother's arms. The assailant vanished into the night, leaving behind a grieving family and a community grappling with yet another act of senseless violence.

Remembering Isaiah: A Life Cut Short

Born on January 22, 1992, in San Francisco, Isaiah was the youngest of four children. He grew up in Oakland, attending Chabot Elementary, Claremont Middle School, and Oakland Technical High School. Known for his infectious sense of humor, Isaiah was the quintessential "class clown," always ready to lift the spirits of those around him. His interests spanned from basketball and bicycling to caring for tropical fish and his pet red-tailed boa constrictor. At the time of his death, he worked as a Cargo Agent for Swissport at San Francisco International Airport and was engaged to Abria Shankle, with whom he dreamed of building a future filled with happiness and children. ...Read More

Share

Comments (0)

Leave A Comment