Californian mother of eight children shot dead in confrontation with suspected drug dealers

A California woman was fatally shot when she confronted three people, including two teenagers, who she suspected were drug dealers selling marijuana to her children.

Authorities in Oakland, California, responded to a shooting on Aug. 7 and found one person suffering from gunshot wounds, Oakland police said, KRON 4, NBC Bay Area and CBS News previously reported.

“A young lady visiting her family was gunned down by two juveniles and an adult male as a result of an argument,” Oakland Deputy Police Chief Frederick Shavies said at a press conference on Friday, August 16.

He added that the 33-year-old victim was pronounced dead and patrol police immediately located the suspects' vehicle and took them into custody within 12 hours.

The victim was identified by Oakland police as Maria Ramos, according to KRON 4 and NBC Bay Area.

Blanca Velasco, Ramos' mother, said Ramos was visiting her from Los Angeles with her eight children, according to NBC Bay Area. Her children range in age from 1 to 16, according to a GoFundMe campaign for her funeral expenses.

On the day of the shooting, Velasco told San Francisco Chronicle that she saw a car pull up in front of the house and believed the teenage residents were selling drugs to her family member.

According to surveillance footage obtained and released by KTVU, Velasco and Ramos then followed the car containing the suspects and pulled over.

“Our plan was to tell them not to come to our house anymore,” Velasco said, according to the outlet.

The video shows a person identified by KTVU as Ramos getting out of his car and allegedly spraying pepper spray into the suspects' car.

As can be seen from the video, one of the occupants of the suspects' car can be seen getting out of the passenger seat and following the person identified as Ramos.

Ramos was allegedly shot and subsequently collapsed on a nearby sidewalk, the outlet reported. Velasco then drove away after the suspects allegedly pointed a gun at her, she said, according to KTVU.

The video then shows the suspects’ car driving away.

When Velasco returned to the scene of the confrontation, she found Ramos lying on the ground bleeding, she told the newspaper.

“I saw the blood coming out and started rubbing her and told her, 'Breathe! We still need you. You have eight children who still need you,'” Velasco said.

While she was caring for her daughter, authorities arrived at the scene, she said.

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Ramos is recognized for her kindness on the GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral expenses and support her children left behind.

“She brought immeasurable joy, love and kindness to the lives of all who knew her,” the fundraiser states.

Authorities have not released the names of the suspects at the time of reporting. Charges and details of the suspects' confessions were not immediately clear.