Former California Golden Bears basketball legend Gene Ransom was killed in a freeway shooting in California on Friday, police said.
The basketball star, 65, was killed while he was driving north along Interstate 880 in Oakland around 5pm, the city's fire department said.
California Highway Patrol (CHP) arrested 25-year-old Juan Angel Garcia of San Francisco and charged him with murder in connection with Ransom's death.
Garcia allegedly pulled up on his Ransom's left side in a black Nexus and opened fire at least once. Garcia is in custody at Alameda County Jail and authorities have yet to reveal the motive behind the attack.
CHP responded to the scene after a witness called 911 when they saw Ransom's car veering on the interstate, and believed the driver had a medical emergency.
Officials later confirmed that Ransom had been struck by gunfire before crashing his black Honda Civic into the guardrail.
Former California Golden Bears basketball star Gene Ransom (pictured) was killed in a freeway shooting in California on Friday
Juan Angel Garcia (pictured) of San Francisco, 25, was arrested and charged with murder in connection with Ransom's death
Ransom's vehicle crashed into the guardrail. CHP responded to the scene after a witness called 911 when they saw Ransom's car veering on the interstate. It was later confirmed he had been struck by gunfire
Ransom was a renowned point guard for the University at Berkley's Bears in the late 1970s, and was fondly remembered by residents of the Bay Area as a community leader.
'He was probably one of the biggest players to come out of Berkeley High,' Doug Harris, a friend of Ransom, told abc7.
'Not only a good friend to me but the entire Bay Area sports community,' he added.
Harris said Ransom was driving to pick up his girlfriend at the West Oakland BART station before he was killed. The woman reportedly waited for him for hours before learning about his death.
Harris also told the outlet that he and Ransom had been involved in Athletes United for Peace, a non-profit which seeks to use sports as a vehicle for social change, for more then 20 years.
'The very thing we worked so hard to prevent for our young people, he has been a victim of, so this is really hard for me,' Harris said.
Ransom's son, Thaxter Ransom, issued a heartfelt statement remembering his father as a loved member of the community.
Ransom was a point guard for the University at Berkley's Bears in the late 1970s
Gene Ransom (left) and his friend Edward Walker (right) in a 2019 photo. Ransom is fondly remembered in the Bay Area as a community leader
He wrote: 'My father was and still is a great man, he was a major influence in the East Bay Area community. He showed love to everyone he met and came across sometimes as a flirt.
'That was him Gene 'the dream' Ransom. He opened the door for future basketball stars who came out of the Bay Area. He was looked up to and loved by many. I'll never forget him, and will always love him.'
The University of California at Berkeley also said in a statement: 'We are shocked to hear the reports that Cal Athletics Hall of Famer Gene Ransom has been identified as a victim in a deadly freeway shooting.'
Doug Harris, a friend of Ransom, told abc7 that the basketball star had been part of Athletes United for Peace, a non-profit seeking to combat violence, for more than 20 years
Ransom is the latest victims of gun violence in crime-ridden California, where shootings and violent crimes are on the rise
'Our thoughts are with Gene's family and friends for this tragic loss. Gene was one of the greatest players in our men's basketball program's history, and he will be greatly missed.'
Ransom played basketball at Cal from 1975-1978, before retiring and dedicating his time to coaching.
He is the latest victims of gun violence in crime-ridden Oakland, where shootings and violent crimes are on the rise.
In 2020, California saw the largest jump in homicide deaths in the state history since 1960, with 500 more deaths reported than in 2019.
Over the past year, Oakland experienced a 21percent increase in shooting incidents, the most since 2012. Many of the shootings involved gang conflicts, according to Oakland Police.
On Tuesday, a recruit with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department in California was shot to death while traveling on a freeway in Oakland.
The recruit was pronounced dead at
