Mackayla Paige, a 29-year-old female from Richmond, California, was a vibrant and ambitious woman remembered by loved ones as the life of the party. Known to fans as "Kash," she was building a career as a reality television personality, appearing on several streaming shows including "Young & Reckless," "Real West Coast Baddies," and "Room H8's." On Instagram, she identified herself as a makeup artist and "lowkey famous."
Her family said her dreams extended far beyond reality TV; she wanted to be an actor, start her own makeup business, and inspire people. Her cousin, Azima King, recalled that Mackayla "wanted to be somebody. She wanted to make it, she had big plans and dreams." Another cousin, Nicky Clayton, said, "She wanted to be famous so bad... She wanted to be a reality star." A close friend remembered her as "so fun," adding, "She's not gone. I can't speak of her in the past tense."
In the early morning hours of Sunday, October 11, 2026, Mackayla was outside the Cave Lounge venue on the 200 block of 14th Street near Harrison Street in downtown Oakland. Around 1:30 a.m., she became involved in a physical altercation with another woman. According to police, Mackayla's sister, Vernika Dunbar, intervened in the fight. Dunbar grabbed a firearm and attempted to strike the woman Mackayla was fighting. As she did, the gun discharged, and the bullet struck Mackayla.
Oakland Police Department officers and emergency crews arrived at the scene to find Mackayla suffering from at least one gunshot wound. They rendered lifesaving aid before she was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. Despite their efforts, Mackayla Paige succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the shooting began immediately. Oakland police arrested a woman from Richmond in connection with the homicide on the same day as the incident. Investigators later identified the woman taken into custody as Mackayla's own sister, Vernika Dunbar. The Alameda County District Attorney's Office subsequently charged Dunbar with involuntary manslaughter, assault, and carrying a loaded firearm in public.
Mackayla’s death sent a shockwave of grief through her family and community of fans. "Honestly I don't know how I feel. I'm floating. Shaking. I've been shaking since yesterday," her cousin Azima King said in the days after the shooting. Loved ones gathered at the site of the incident, creating a growing memorial to honor her memory. The streaming platform Now That's TV, which featured her on several shows, posted a tribute on Instagram, writing, "Though her time with us was far too short, her memory will live on." Her family urged the public to remember her for her aspirations and vibrant personality, not for the tragic final moments of her life. "She just wanted better for her life. And she wanted to be better. And she wanted to change," King said.
As of October 2026, the criminal case against Vernika Dunbar is proceeding through the court system. The Oakland Police Department has asked anyone with information, photos, or video related to the shooting to contact the Homicide Section at (510) 238-3821 or the tip line at (510) 238-7950.
