Bounhom Manyvong, a 59-year-old security guard, was fatally shot while on duty on December 19, 2009, in Oakland, California. The incident took place at an Auto Zone store located on International Boulevard. Manyvong was working as a security guard when he approached what appeared to be a shoplifter. In the course of this encounter, he was shot by one of the suspects.
The Oakland Police Department described the two individuals involved as persons of interest, both young African American men in their twenties. One of them was around six feet tall, wearing a green fur-lined jacket, while the other was slightly shorter and wore a black hooded sweatshirt. These men were seen in the vicinity of the crime and were believed to have crucial information about what transpired that night.
Following the homicide, the Oakland Police Department, in collaboration with Crime Stoppers of Oakland, offered a reward of up to $15,000 for any information that could lead to the resolution of the case. Despite these efforts, no arrests were reported immediately following the incident, and the case remains unsolved, adding to the list of unsolved homicides in Oakland during that period, which experienced a significant number of violent incidents in 2009. Manyvong’s death highlights the ongoing challenge faced by law enforcement in addressing violence in high-risk areas of Oakland, where witnesses often hesitate to come forward, impeding investigations. His family, like many others impacted by violence in Oakland, continues to await justice for the loss of their loved one.
The Oakland Police Department has continued to seek assistance from the public to find those responsible for Manyvong's death, urging anyone with information to contact their homicide division or submit tips anonymously in an effort to bring closure to his family.
