Kimarii McLemore spent her last morning alive texting her mother about a suspicious car lurking in the parking lot of the Parker Community Resource Center in Oakland, California. Hours later, the 25-year-old was dead — shot and killed on what family members say was supposed to be her final day of carpentry school.
Background
McLemore had been enrolled in an adult education carpentry program at the community center, a milestone her family describes as a significant achievement. On the morning of July 31, she reached out to her mother expressing fear about a suspicious vehicle parked on campus that left her frightened, according to statements her loved ones shared with KTVU. Her mother immediately went to check on her daughter. "That's when she heard the rounds go off," said Brittia Johnson, McLemore's aunt.
The family says McLemore had been scared to attend class in the days leading up to her death due to an ongoing dispute with a male classmate. "When she started, it was somebody in there that she didn't get along with," Johnson recalled. "She said they had conversed and they had squashed it." Despite reportedly resolving their differences, McLemore's unease persisted.
The Investigation
Oakland Police Chief James Beere addressed reporters shortly after the shooting, offering a grim assessment of what authorities were facing. "This was not a random act," Beere said at the scene. "This is a very intentional crime." Investigators spent significant time with McLemore's family following her death, gathering information about her final days and any potential conflicts that might have led to her killing.
While no suspects were in custody as of the latest reports, Chief Beere expressed confidence in the department's progress. "We actually have some really good leads," he told reporters. "Our investigators have a lot of information." When pressed by journalists about whether police were looking into the male classmate McLemore's family mentioned, authorities declined to comment on specific persons of interest.
Johnson described her niece as someone who felt unsafe with one particular person in her class but believed the situation had been addressed. "I don't know who pulled the trigger," she said, "but I know she felt unsafe with the person in the class with her."
Key Takeaways
- Kimarii McLemore, 25, was shot and killed at the Parker Community Resource Center in Oakland on July 31
- She had texted her mother that morning about a suspicious car in the campus parking lot that frightened her
- Family members say she had been scared to attend class due to an ongoing dispute with a male classmate
- Police Chief James Beere described the killing as intentional, not random
- No suspects were in custody at time of reporting; investigators said they have "good leads"
What's Next
The Oakland Police Department continues its investigation into McLemore's death. Authorities have not identified any suspects or made arrests, and police declined to confirm whether they are focusing on any specific individuals. Chief Beere told reporters he is "fairly confident" the department will "get to the bottom of this" case. Family members are cooperating with investigators as the search for answers continues.