Beloved community figure Earl Rhue, 75, was gunned down while taking a smoke break
In a shocking act of violence that has left a community in mourning, Earl Rhue, a respected former NASA engineer and beloved local figure, was fatally shot during an apparent carjacking while visiting friends in Oakland on Wednesday evening.
A life of achievement cut short
Rhue, a 75-year-old University of California, Berkeley graduate, was more than just a NASA engineer. He was a multifaceted individual who had touched many lives, working as a puppeteer at Children’s Fairyland and recently driving for food delivery services.
On the night of the incident, Rhue was enjoying a Golden State Warriors game with his daughter and family friends at a residence on the 2700 block of 9th Avenue. Around 7:30 pm, he stepped outside to smoke, a moment that would tragically become his last.
Eyewitness account of the tragedy
Maria Rosa Keys, a close family friend, recounted the horrifying moments to local Fox affiliate KTVU. “We heard a gunshot,” she said, “but the television was on really loud.” Keys described hearing cries for help and subsequently seeing police lights as officers arrived at the scene.
Rhue was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries but was pronounced dead later that night. His daughter, Maria Martens, expressed her shock at the sudden and senseless violence. “Shocked to know that’s what happened,” Martens told reporters. “And how fast it happened.”
Keys remembered Rhue as a “renaissance man” who had spoken at her late husband’s life celebration just six months earlier. “In addition to the brilliant mind he had, he also just loved people,” she said, her voice laden with grief.
Ongoing investigation
The Oakland Police Department’s homicide section is actively investigating the incident. They are urging anyone with information to contact them at (510) 238-3821 or the tip line at 238-7950. Individuals with potential video or photographic evidence are asked to email cidvideos@oaklandca.gov.
Community in mourning
Rhue’s death is a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges of urban violence. A man who had dedicated his life to science, community service, and bringing joy to children has been cut down in a moment of senseless brutality.
As the investigation continues, the community is left to remember Earl Rhue—a NASA engineer, a puppeteer, a friend, and a beacon of kindness whose life was tragically and abruptly ended.