Owner of Oakland's Otaez Mexicatessen Killed in Apparent Robbery Attempt

Ray Chavez/Oakland Tribune, 2000

Otaez owner Jesus "Chuy" Campos, fatally shot this morning in Oakland.

The Oakland Tribune is reporting that Jesus Campos, owner of Oakland's Otaez Mexicatessen, was shot and killed this morning in what authorities believe was an attempted robbery. From the Trib:

Jesus "Chuy" Campos was shot at 5:36 a.m. outside the 39th Avenue service entrance to Otaez Mexicatessen.... The gunman fled before police arrived. Campos, who lives just a few houses away, was there helping with preparations for a 6 a.m. breakfast serving.

The Otaez Mexicatessen, at 3872 International (at 39th Ave.), is an anchor of Fruitvale's Mexican food scene, a place spilling over with families slurping birria and menudo on weekends. Campos launched the Mexicatessen in 1986. He opened the much grander Otaez restaurant in Alameda in 2006, and a smaller branch last year at Oakland International Airport.

Again from the Trib:

On Friday morning, Campos was beginning what was his daily routine. Family members say he would wake up shortly after 5 a.m. each weekday, walk the short distance to his restaurant and unlock the door so that workers could begin their preparations. Then, he would drive to his ranch in the Palomares Canyon south of Castro Valley, feed the animals and pour himself a cup of pajarete ― a drink made of fresh milk, chocolate, coffee and a dash of alcohol. He would return to Oakland to pick up his grandson and take him to school and would be back at Otaez by 10 a.m., spending most of the day at the restaurant until it closed at 9 p.m.

Oakland police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the killer's arrest.

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Tags:

Fruitvale, Jesus Campos, killed, Oakland, Otaez Mexicatessen, robbery

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Asians and Hispanics should get together and fight those who bully!

Lupita0230

nuestro mas grande pesame alafamilia de chuy y q dios lesde resignacion para sobre salir adelante espesialmente para su esposa y sus hijos

D.L.

The description of the two suspects and the gray Buick regal or Pontiac with tinted windows and 20" wheels fits the descriptions of two thugs I've seen more than once in the San Antonio neighborhood.Why haven't I called the police? Because I haven't been able to get their license plate number.The police should really do a search of DMV records for "local" owners of vehicles that fit that description. If those suspects are the same ones I've seen in the past I'm leaning in favor of a Buick Regal. Although the color could be off-grey, more like a greyish mocha color.

Yuri_aguilera

el sr chuy era buena persona lo poco q platique con el sr bastaba para decir q era una GRAN PERSONA ! , humilde y amable sobre todo... QUE DESCANCE EN PAZ SR JESUS .. y para su esposa y familiares lo siento mucho de corazon .DIOSITO TE LLEVASTE A UNA BUENA PERSONA A TU PARAISO CUIDALO Y DILE Q TODOS LO ESTIMAMOS COMO SIEMPRE LO FUE ... " UNA GRAN PERSONA" .

Luchalibre86

This is really really sad cruel and heartless.

Rdgonzalez80

Funny how in the Fruitvale district the police loves to mess with undocumented people putting check points, pulling over "suspects" and all that good stuff they love to do, However hookers, pimps, drug dealers etc. can walk around like they own this place. If law enforcement focused on getting some of these criminals of the streets, Oakland would be safer and incidents like this wouldn't be so common. Rest in peace Don Chuy.

Xingona1

I used to eat there with my mom, tia and abuelta. Just last week they spoke to the the owner. I remember him as a quiet person that worked very hard. I feel for the family, especially his wife who worked with him. I know she's probably hurting very badly inside. The Fruitvale is ugly at night. During the day it is okay but 24hours a day pimps and prostitutes, I mean sexually exploited minors/children are walking the cold street and a police car is nowhere in sight. The mayor and the Governor need to do something about this, stop the gang-injunction but protect and serve!

LIZ GARCIA

TO THE CAMPOS FAMILY THE LOSS OF CHUY IS A VERY SAD THING THAT HAPPEND,HE WAS A VERY GREAT FRIEND TO MY FAMILY AND I .HE WILL BE MISSED VERY MUCH BY TONY GARCIA AND FAMILY DBA BORINQUEN GLASS,ARE PRAYERS WILL BE WITH THE FAMILY.

Thetruebeauty30

I think that the shooters should be shakin I wanna fuckin torture those mother fuckers

Elviveministry

Oro para que Dios les de el consuelo necesario a cada uno de sus familiares, perder a un ser querido es el dolor mas amargo que cualquier persona puede atravezar, sin embargo es algo que todos vamos a pasar. Es por esa razon que debemos aprovechar al maximo cada minuto que tenemos con nuestros seres queridos, porque nadie nos garantiza el dia de manana... Que La Paz del Senor llene cada uno de sus corazones cada momento de sus vidas... Amen!

Mombacho1

It is time to stop Oaklanders the cirme , join us on may 13 to walk on international and take our street backs, stop the violence in oakland ,stop the prostitution, oakland deserve better environment.

MOYAOLGA MAMA

My prayers go out this his family you willbe missed dearly it is very Sad how Oakland is turning out , he was a wonderful person, every time I will change my Check he will have a nice smile and greet peolpe in anything that he can. R.I.P.

Trish

Vaya con Dios, Amigo

maria

Lo siento mucho mis mas sentidas condolencias por toda la familia . los que tenemos negocios aqui en oakland estamos expuestos a lidiar con gente sin excrupulos que se dedican a a atracar a la gente trabajadora. espero que las autoridades hagan algo al respecto. mis condolencias a toda la familia. maria luisa franco.