Recent Oakland homicide victim was among those who sued to stop state from clearing them out of encampment

OAKLAND — Police here have identified a man who was shot and killed Aug. 13 inside a parked vehicle.

Will Schwerma, 53, was shot and killed on the afternoon on Aug. 13, in the 3400 block of Beach Street in Oakland, in a neighborhood frequented by people living out of RVs and vans, authorities said. Police haven’t announced any arrests nor said if they’ve identified a motive.

Schwerma was among a large group of then-residents of a large homeless encampment on Wood Street who sued in federal court to stop the California Department of Transportation from “evicting” them. The suit resulted in a temporary restraining order but a judge eventually allowed the state to kick the plaintiffs out and clear the camp.

It is unknown exactly when Schwerma was killed; a passer-by noticed his body inside the parked vehicle and called police to the scene, authorities said.