Community outraged over black educator’s homicide

OAKLAND, Calif. – Intruders who shot and killed a respected education activist at his home in Oakland’s Maxwell Park neighborhood had apparently targeted the residence, the police chief said Monday.

The unidentified assailants who killed Dirk Tillotson, 52, came “specifically to that residence. They did not impact other residences,” Chief LeRonne Armstrong said at a news conference.

“We are looking into a couple of things we think could be a contributor to why he might be the focus, or his residence,” Armstrong said.

Tillotson was killed and his wife was injured when shots rang out at their home on Monticello Avenue at about 11:30 p.m. Friday.

His wife, who was shot in the arm, called 911. As police searched for a motive in the case, friends and local leaders mourned the loss of Tillotson.

Councilmember Loren Taylor, who represents Maxwell Park, said he felt he had a responsibility to “get to the bottom of this and ensure that we are able to not just hold the perpetrators of this crime accountable, but fulfill the legacy and the mission that Dirk stood for.”

Former Oakland school board member Jumoke Hodge said Tillotson was a tireless advocate for schoolkids and educational equity.

“I’m saddened deeply, yet inspired in so many deep ways around the work that he has done,” Hodge said.

She said Tillotson was known for “unapologetically looking at what the needs are for the Black community, and so I think his legacy is about moving forward.”

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