Edwin Guerrero, a 24-year-old resident of Richmond, California, was fatally shot on November 17, 2019, in West Oakland. Guerrero was found with multiple gunshot wounds around 4:59 p.m. on the 1200 block of Magnolia Street. Despite being rushed to a hospital, he succumbed to his injuries at 5:42 p.m. that same evening. The motive behind the shooting was initially unclear, and no immediate arrests were made.
The Oakland Police Department and Crime Stoppers of Oakland offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator.
The investigation into Guerrero's death revealed that he was the victim of an attempted robbery that escalated into a high-speed chase and subsequent shooting. According to court records, two individuals, Kareem Luon, 23, and Rudy Nguyen, 19, were charged with Guerrero's murder. The charges included four counts of attempted robbery and other related offenses. Luon and Nguyen allegedly chased Guerrero and three others through Oakland streets after they exited a jewelry store. The chase ended when the victims' car crashed into a residence near the 1200 block of Magnolia Street. Luon admitted to police that he and Nguyen were involved in the robbery attempt and that Nguyen opened fire on Guerrero as he tried to flee from the crashed vehicle.
In November 2020, both Luon and Nguyen appeared in court. Luon pleaded not guilty, while Nguyen postponed entering a plea. Luon later accepted a plea deal to an assault charge, resulting in the murder charges being dropped. Nguyen, on the other hand, accepted a plea deal in May 2021, resulting in a manslaughter conviction and a 15-year prison sentence. The plea deals brought some closure to the case, although Guerrero's family did not speak at Nguyen's sentencing hearing. Guerrero was remembered by his family and friends as a beloved son, friend, and brother, with a contagious laugh that could brighten anyone's day.
