Recent Oakland homicide victim was among those who sued to stop state from clearing them out of encampment

Recent Oakland homicide victim was among those who sued to stop state from clearing them out of encampment

OAKLAND — Police here have identified a man who was shot and killed Aug. 13 inside a parked vehicle.

Will Schwerma, 53, was shot and killed on the afternoon on Aug. 13, in the 3400 block of Beach Street in Oakland, in a neighborhood frequented by people living out of RVs and vans, authorities said. Police haven’t announced any arrests nor said if they’ve identified a motive.

Schwerma was among a large group of then-residents of a large homeless encampment on Wood Street who sued in federal court to stop the California Department of Transportation from “evicting” them. The suit resulted in a temporary restraining order but a judge eventually allowed the state to kick the plaintiffs out and clear the camp.

It is unknown exactly when Schwerma was killed; a passer-by noticed his body inside the parked vehicle and called police to the scene, authorities said.