Rapper The Jacka Remembered In Oakland One Year After His Murder
OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- People gathered in East Oakland Thursday night to light candles for a rapper who spoke for the streets just one year ago.
His name was Dominick Newton, but on stage he was The Jacka, a larger than life Bay Area music icon.
On the night of February 2, 2015 shots rang out on 94th Avenue and Macarthur Boulevard.
Linda Grant, a friend of the rapper, said, her brothers were on the streets that nighttrying to save him. Grant said she remembers "how traumatic it was and how we couldn't believe it was Jacka that night."
Some people call it Jacka's block now, some call it 94th and Jacka.
Murals, candles, flowers, and graffiti grace the intersection in tribute to Jacka. The men who grew up with him and made music with him say his music was thought-provoking.
Rapper Husalah, said, "It made you think. It made you feel. It made you love. It made you alive."
One year later, his murder remains unsolved.
Some people blame the Oakland police, saying the police are going to solve the cases that they want to solve. Others said they know the unspoken rule in this community: Even people who know what happened may never tell.
Oakland police did not return messages Thursday night seeking comment about the case.
There have been no arrests, but police say people in the community hold the key to what happened.