On August 20, 2023, at approximately 6:00 AM, the Oakland Police Department (OPD) responded to reports of a shooting in the 9200 block of E Street in Oakland, California. Upon arrival, officers discovered 23-year-old Guillermo Kelly-Torres suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Despite prompt medical attention, Kelly-Torres was pronounced dead at the scene.
Kelly-Torres, originally from El Rosario, Mexico, had immigrated to the United States at the age of 14.
He was known for his passion for photography, painting, and dance, and was described by his father as a compassionate individual who supported his younger siblings in Mexico by sending them money. On the evening prior to his death, he had informed his father that he was going out dancing but tragically never returned.
The investigation into Kelly-Torres's death led to the identification of 26-year-old Oakland resident Juan Sura-Martinez as the primary suspect. Sura-Martinez and Kelly-Torres had reportedly met less than three hours before the fatal incident. Following an argument between the two, Sura-Martinez allegedly shot Kelly-Torres. Later that morning, Sura-Martinez surrendered to authorities at the Eastmont police substation and was taken into custody. The Alameda County District Attorney's Office subsequently charged him with homicide.
The arrest provided some measure of relief to Kelly-Torres's grieving family, who continue to mourn the loss of a young man remembered for his artistic talents, generosity, and dedication to his family both in the United States and Mexico. His father expressed a profound sense of emptiness following his son's death, emphasizing the deep void left in their lives.
