A storefront display features handwritten signs reading "THIS IS WHY WE VOTE" alongside large portraits of individuals with their names and birth-death years: Mario Romero, Angel Ramos, Ronell Foster, Eric Reason, Willie McCoy, and Sean Monterrosa. The display advocates for voting as a response to social justice issues.
A memorial for police shooting victims Mario Romero, Angel Ramos, Ronell Foster, Willie McCoy, Eric Reason and Sean Monterrosa in downtown Vallejo, Calif. on Sept. 11, 2020. (Geoffrey King / Open Vallejo)

The family of Angel Ramos is again organizing a coat drive to honor the young man, who was killed by a Vallejo police officer in 2017. 

Ramos’ family is collecting winter clothing and other goods to distribute at the fourth annual Community Giveback event, scheduled for Jan. 25 in Vallejo. Community members can drop off coats, sweaters, beanies, gloves, scarves, hygiene items, tents, sleeping bags, and similar items at 521 Georgia Street during normal business hours through Jan. 24. The giveaway event is scheduled for Jan. 25 at the same location.

“The reason we do the coat drive is because that’s the type of person Angel was — always giving,” his mother Annice Evans told Open Vallejo. “He was such a kind person.”

Ramos, 21, was fatally shot on Jan. 23, 2017, by Vallejo police officer Zachary Jacobsen. The killing is among 30 fatal police shootings in the small Bay Area city north of San Francisco since 2000, Open Vallejo research shows. 

In 2022, the city of Vallejo settled a civil rights lawsuit brought by Ramos’ family for $2.8 million, according to public records.

Geoffrey King is the executive editor of Open Vallejo. Prior to founding Open Vallejo, Geoffrey worked as an attorney and journalist focused on free expression, open government, press freedom and privacy. He is a proud native of Vallejo, California.