Family members and friends prayed and shared stories about Blueford, who attended Tracy High School until 2010 and was set to graduate in June from Skyline High east of Oakland, according to his cousin Tanesha Blye.
Blueford allegedly ran from officers and during a foot chase was shot three times by an officer, “under the stated belief that the suspect posed an immediate, lethal threat,” according to a press release issued Tuesday, May 8, by the Oakland Police Department.
Two officers reportedly recovered a pistol at the scene that they said belonged to the person they were chasing, whom they later identified as Blueford, according to the release.
A fourth shot that was fired by the officer, the release states, struck that officer in the foot.
The officer’s name has not been released, and the incident is under investigation.
Blye and others who gathered at the Elissagaray subdivision park called for justice, saying Blueford was the victim of racial profiling and an unnecessarily aggressive police response.
The Rev. Zacchaeus Dunham, pastor at Agape Church in Tracy, where Blueford’s family
attends services, prayed with the crowd asking for God to give strength to those who gathered and for justice to be served.
“We’re not going to let this go,” he told the crowd. “We’re not going to sweep this under the rug. We want vindication.”
Blueford was approached by officers while apparently waiting for a ride from some friends after watching the Floyd Mayweather-Miguel Cotto boxing match on May 5, according to family members.
Blueford and two other men, who were on 90th Avenue in Oakland, were stopped “based on observations regarding a potentially concealed firearm,” the police release states.
But Blye and others who knew Blueford disputed the police department’s version of events.
“That was not Alan’s character,” Blye said. “He made mistakes, but that was not Alan’s character. ... It’s hard to believe he’d even have a firearm.”
One of the mistakes Blye referred to involved a juvenile conviction for felony burglary on Blueford’s record, though Blye insisted it was a nonviolent offense. Blueford was on probation in San Joaquin County for the burglary offense at the time of the shooting, according to Oakland police.
San Joaquin County court records also indicate that charges of second-degree robbery against Blueford in 2011 were dismissed, according to Stephanie Bohrer at the Stockton San Joaquin Superior Court.
Blye, however, said her younger cousin was on the right track and was studying hard to finish his classes so he could graduate this year from Skyline.
She also said the Oakland Police Department originally reported that there was an exchange of gunfire. The Tuesday press release states that “several independent witnesses” said Blueford pointed a gun at police.
Blye also said police neglected to tell Blueford’s parents in a timely manner about their son’s death.
Relatives feel the police lied to them, Blye said, which has prompted them to seek justice on Blueford’s behalf.
She invited those attending the Wednesday vigil to another vigil in front of the Oakland Police Department headquarters at 5 p.m. Friday, May 11. There will also be a march from the corner of 90th Avenue and Birch Street in Oakland to the nearest police substation beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 12.
Blye said the family has also sought help from attorney John Burris, who represented the family of Oscar Grant after Grant was shot to death by a BART police officer on New Year’s Day, 2009.
At Wednesday’s event, as the sun set and candles were lit, family members and friends shared memories about a “bright young man” taken too soon from his community.
“My son Alan had a great heart,” said his father, Adam Blueford. “My son Alan was on his way to great things.”
Friends talked of Blueford’s wide smile and genuine nature.
Coaches from the Tracy Raiders — now the Tracy Bulldogs — youth football team also recalled Blueford as a hard-charging, clean-playing athlete who desperately wanted to play the sport at the next level.
All who spoke expressed sympathy and commitment to Blueford’s family.
“As a family, it’s the hardest thing we’ve had to go through,” said Blueford’s sister, Ashley Blueford.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWMgLvbZ0g8&feature=relat
This is why we need our guns by law abiding people to protect ourselves and family members from thugs that are doing dangerouse deeds. So, you see that even ex felons can get a gun. No ex felons worry about passing a DOJ background test or worry about a 10 day waiting period to get the gun, reason, they live outside of the law and are called outlaws, they will always have guns. If they take our guns away the only people who will have them beside the police are the criminals.
Below is a name to look for in the news about the Alan Blueford shooting. He sues cops. Don't be surprised if he pops up to degrade them and our safety.
http://www.johnburrislaw.com/CM/Custom/John-L-Burris-Biography.asp
Hey Cathlab.
To answer your one question... I would be devestated. I would be heartbroken. I would be furious. It is likely that I would be unable to think clearly. And honestly, I was happy to push the thought as far from my mind as possible as quick as possible. My kids are everything and I want them to outlive me by decades. They may make poor decisions. I hope not.
May I ask you a question in return? Was the young man shot in the back? I honestly don't know so it is a legit question. The article on sfgate.com would seem to indicate that he was actually facing the officer but again it isn't perfectly clear.
IF the young man had his back to the officer, then no shot, lead or rubber, should have been fired. He should be alive and well today.
IF, he was facing the officer, AND, he was armed with a gun. Then unfortunately the outcome is somewhat predictable and what has come to pass. Sadly.
I provided a lot of IFs. I answered your question. I am going to accept that I will likely never know all the details. I hope that investigations are done properly and the truth comes out.
That's it.
BM
I do agree with the general premise of the whole of your comment though.
Don't have your friends or kids end up on web pages calling the police racist killers and using your kid and friends as a reason to fuel their reasons to keep dividing this nation over hate and race.
That's the long and short of it. Less drama about how good they 'were' and more positive results. It is not impossible to do. We would much rather read the positive things about people and less about the people who are crying 'foul ball' or challenging the penalty because someone got killed because of something other than why it happened.
Sorry for the loss but it's starting to get old and on our nerves, we are not in the 60's anymore and most are not going to be taken back.
I am glad I never met this kid, I am sure his friends and who knew him thought of him as a nice guy when he was not getting caught stealing others stuff who worked hard for them.
Nope, never met him and I'm glad I didn't. All that I need to know is he was a trouble maker, who is being portraied as a great kid, and the police needlessly shot a great kid and, If I were a cop that was doing my job everyday and night I too woild be crucified by the friends and parents labeling me as a needless racist killer who may be sued by media and POLITICAL pressure. Sound familiar? Ok, maybe this upsets people but we still have freedom of speech and there are several people who are feeling like me that there should be no special treatment, even in the sometimes biased media.
If parents and friend don't want this, teach your kids to respect the law.
MY apologies markj!
Any way to turn this tragedy into a positive. Sometimes it takes a village right? Some kids need more guidance than others. Help to make sure this does not happen to another kid and their family. I wish you the best.
Question first: why would you send your kid to Oakland to get his life back on track? Maybe to get him away from the trouble here, but isn't there more trouble there?Not really my business, but I would be interested to know the thinking behind that one.
Please kids, even if you have been in trouble before - do not run. I don't care if you think the police are racist or profiling you or whatever, don't run. It makes you look guilty and there is the obvious chance of being shot. Just don't do it.
Oakland police are on high alert all the time. I cannot imagine the stress they work under. They are there to protect and serve on of the worst cities in the country. Everyday they leave home to go to work there is a higher chance than most of us that they may not come home.
I hope this all gets sorted out. I am sorry for the Blueford family and understand they do not want to believe their son could have done what the police are alleging. But be open to the fact that it may be true. I have sympathy for the cop who had to shoot while most likely in fear for his life
If someone learns from this and it prevents them from making the same choice, I'd say it was a good deed! As far as he was a child, Wrong! 18 is adult age, young adult but STILL an adult.
How many times does it take a GOOD ADULT to learn what a mistake is? He was 18 not 4!
Turned around alright, to run from a cop.... when he did nothing wrong right?!
So if he was a thug? Who said that? But if he was then "so be it" he is dead now? Talking about the pot calling the kettle black! I know thugs that have yet to get caught, so then I wouldnt call then thugs. But he did have a felony, does that make him a thug violent or not?
He was shot in the back because he ran. weather the cop shot himself 1st or last is not clear.
As a american I know 1st hand that things happen. Im sure the cop woke up that morning and said Im gonna shot myself in the foot today!
Respect is earned not givin. As a VET you should already know that too!
Look back at the end of my post, and read it again. From your responce you already had your mind made up I was st8 talking trash the whole way through!
Fact is I was asking questions, just like you!