Nearly three weeks after a mass shooting in a downtown Oakland nightclub claimed two lives and injured five people, the family of 33-year-old San Pablo teacher Latetia “Teesh” Bobo is speaking out.
Bobo was killed in a hail of gunfire that erupted inside EZ’s Lounge on March 7.
Acting as a spokesperson for the family, Keith Norman, who is married to Bobo’s older sister LaShontae Norman, described Bobo as a teacher, artist, and community builder who cared deeply about her students.
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“Latetia was beautifully brilliant,” Norman said at a press conference held Tuesday in Richmond. “She was essential to our family, her friends, and colleagues.”
Bobo taught English language arts to eighth-graders at Caliber Beta Academy, a charter school in San Pablo. Loved ones remembered her as an educator who went far beyond the classroom, leading after-school writing clubs and mentoring students who needed extra support. Norman said Bobo had been planning a school trip to Washington, D.C., and New York before her death.
Latetia Bobo, 33, was killed in a mass shooting at an Oakland bar on Sat., March 7, 2026. Also slain was a 25-year-old man. Courtesy of Caliber Beta Academy
LaShontae Norman described her late sister’s classroom as a refuge.
“Some of the students mentioned how her classroom was a place where they could truly be themselves and express themselves,” she said.
The family held a memorial service for Bobo Monday at the McGlothen Temple Church of God in Christ in Richmond. Caliber Public Schools, which employed Bobo, canceled school for the day so students and teachers could attend.
“The church was completely filled,” Norman said. “We shared our memories, we shared our laughs, and we shared our goodbyes.”
The Rev. Carol Estes, Bobo’s godmother and pastor at West Oakland’s Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church — the church Bobo grew up attending — said Bobo was “stubbornly determined for good.”
“She extended the goodness of herself so that she could uplift, encourage, and inspire those who were standing with her,” Estes added.
Honoring Bobo’s life and calling for accountability
Keith Norman, shooting victim Latetia “Teesh” Bobo‘s brother-in-law, remembers Bobo as a loving family member and educator. Credit: Estefany Gonzalez for The Oaklandside
To honor her life, Norman said the family wants to find opportunities to continue Bobo’s legacy by sending her students to Washington, D.C., and supporting students interested in pursuing careers in the arts. Bobo was an artist, actor, and singer, according to her loved ones.
The family also wants to work with Oakland leaders, community organizations, and residents to push for changes to prevent future violence, but stopped short of naming specific policies.
“We want … change that allows young people to be in the community, enjoy themselves, and come back home safely,” Norman said. “Her story cannot be forgotten or ignored.”
Questions surrounding the circumstances of the shooting remain, including concerns that the nightclub operated without the proper permits and after legal hours, and whether an illegally modified fully automatic pistol was used by one of the shooters. The other victim, Markise Martin, 25, of Stockton got into an argument with another person, and they opened fire on each other, according to reports.
Te’Reisha Graves, the attorney for Bobo’s family, declined to say whether they would pursue any legal action against the owner of EZ’s Lounge, the city of Oakland, or others.
The Oakland Police Department says its investigation is ongoing.
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