Zavier C. Patton, a 19-year-old college student from Oakland, California, was tragically killed on August 15, 2020, in a drive-by shooting. Zavier was attending a graduation celebration for a friend at a housing complex on International Boulevard in Oakland when the incident occurred. He was part of a prayer circle with other young people when a white SUV and a gray Nissan sedan drove by, and someone from the Nissan opened fire. Zavier and his friends were not the intended targets, and the motive for the shooting remains unclear. The senseless act of violence took place just days before Zavier was set to begin his sophomore year of college with online classes due to the pandemic.
Zavier was a promising student studying computer science at California State University, Northridge. He had moved back to the East Bay to live with his sister, Krystal King, during the pandemic. Zavier was known for his active and wise nature, and he was a role model to his young nephews and others. His family, who had already endured the loss of their mother to cancer six years prior, was devastated by his untimely death. Zavier's sister described him as a loving and caring individual who always inquired about her day, a rare quality in young people.
The Oakland Police Department has been actively investigating the case, but as of now, no arrests have been made. The police have appealed to the public for help in identifying the suspects responsible for Zavier's death. The incident is part of a larger pattern of violence in Oakland, which had seen 57 homicides by the time of Zavier's death in 2020. The police have emphasized that Zavier and his friends were not involved in any violence, highlighting the senselessness of the crime.
Zavier's family and the community have been mourning his loss and calling for justice. His brother-in-law, Bryan Bassette, expressed the family's anguish and concern for the safety of their children, noting the unsettling reality that even seemingly safe environments can become dangerous. Zavier's death has left a void in the lives of his family and friends, who remember him as a great student, a loving uncle, and an exemplary character. The family continues to hope for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for this tragic loss.
