Lakeya Venson, a 30-year-old mother of three, tragically lost her life on April 10, 2016, in East Oakland, California. The incident occurred shortly after 1 a.m. during a child's slumber party at a house on Sunnyside Street. Venson was on the porch when she was struck by a bullet fired by Kali Ponder, an 18-year-old at the time, who later admitted to the shooting. Ponder claimed he opened fire because he believed another man was going to shoot at him, and he feared for his life.
He fired seven shots, one of which hit Venson in the back, piercing through her body and causing her death.
The motive behind the shooting was linked to a dispute over a stolen golden necklace. Earlier that evening, a fight had broken out at a skating rink in San Ramon, where a group of young men allegedly stole the necklace from one of Ponder's friends. Ponder went to the house on Sunnyside Street, thinking the people responsible for the theft lived there. He denied allegations that he was seeking revenge and insisted that he was not a gang member, despite the prosecution's claims that the incident was gang-related. The house where the shooting occurred was associated with the Case Gang, while Ponder and his friends were linked to the rival Stubby/ENT Gang.
During the trial, Ponder expressed remorse for Venson's death, stating that he felt horrible about what had happened. He was convicted of second-degree murder on September 19, 2019, after three days of jury deliberations. Ponder was sentenced to 40 years to life in state prison. The case highlighted the tragic consequences of gang violence and the impact it has on innocent lives. Venson's death left a lasting void in the lives of her three children and the community.
