Wilbur Bartley, age 50, was tragically shot and killed on October 31, 2012, during a robbery at his cellular phone store, Marcus Cellular, located on International Boulevard in East Oakland. The incident occurred shortly after the store closed for the day. Bartley, known as a well-respected and long-time business owner in the community, was found lying on the floor of his store by responding police officers.
Despite initial investigations, no arrests were made immediately, and the tragic incident added to the rising concerns about violence in Oakland at that time.
The community deeply mourned the loss of Bartley, and many friends and customers visited the site to pay their respects in the days following the incident. His death highlighted the ongoing issue of business-targeted crimes in East Oakland, particularly against small business owners. The police urged anyone with information to come forward, but the case remained challenging to solve due to limited witness cooperation.
