There were dancers, a mariachi band, school children, bikers, well-known politicians, unknown immigrants, and they all walked through Oakland's streets as one to bid farewell to Jesus "Chuy" Campos.
So many people came they didn't fit inside St. Elizabeth's Church, but they stayed anyway grieving together outside as mass went on inside.
"He meant a lot to this area. I mean, not just to this area, but to the people in general out here," said Rolando from West Coast OG Riderz Motorcycle Club.
It was less than a week ago and just a few blocks away, that Campos was murdered in a pre-dawn, botched robbery as he opened his popular Mexican restaurant. Police stepped up patrols, but have made no arrests.
"Certainly, we're holding our elected and public officials accountable," said Mario Juarez, the president of the Latino Merchant Association.
Otaez was closed for business today, but mourners still showed up and the memorial grew.
"It's horrifying. The whole community is affected, it's just way over the top. This cannot be happening here, this has to stop," said Rosalind Guillory, a customer from San Leandro.
The love for Campos is felt in the eerie silence of the usually life-filled Fruitvale District where stores went locked up so fellow merchants could pay their respects too.
"He was a fighter. He fought for his community. He fought for his neighbors. He fought for his customers. He fought for his employees and at the end he fought for his own life and in this one, he lost," said Juarez.
They call it a crime against an entire community and it seems the entire community turned out to say one last good-bye.
Reward
The reward for information in this case is now more than $30,000. If you have any information, call Oakland police at: 510-777-8572
