On May 30, 2023, at approximately 11:43 p.m., Oroville police responded to reports of a gunshot victim on Myers Street, between B and C streets. Upon arrival, officers found 20-year-old Ronnie Frazier lying on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to his upper body. Despite immediate medical attention, Frazier was pronounced dead at the scene.
Frazier, known by his stage name "Mac Rap," was an aspiring rapper with a passion for music and boxing.
His family and friends remember him as a kind-hearted individual who could light up a room with his smile and jokes. He was visiting his biological father's house in South Oroville on the night of his death.
Following an extensive investigation, Oroville police arrested a 17-year-old male suspect on October 11, 2023, in connection with Frazier's death. Due to the suspect's age, his identity has not been released. Authorities believe the shooting resulted from a chance encounter between Frazier and the suspect, during which an argument ensued. There is no evidence to suggest that they knew each other prior to this incident.
The teenage suspect made his initial appearance in Butte County Juvenile Court on October 16, 2023. The judge informed him that if tried as an adult, he could face a life sentence; if tried as a juvenile, the maximum penalty would be seven years in juvenile hall. Recent legislation has made it challenging to try juveniles as adults, but the District Attorney's office is considering this option. The suspect remains in juvenile hall, with a further hearing scheduled for November 1, 2023.
Frazier's family continues to seek justice for Ronnie, attending court proceedings and expressing their desire for accountability. The community remembers Frazier for his vibrant personality and talents, mourning the loss of a young life taken too soon.
