After a tragic and senseless incident in Oakland last month, where 27-year-old Matheus Gaidos was shot and killed allegedly over an innocuous comment about a passerby's dog, suspect Eric Loc Elvira has been arrested in Chicago with the help of the US Marshals, according to a tweet by KTVU reporter Henry Lee. Oakland police were actively looking for Elvira, who has been charged with Gaidos' murder by the Alameda County DA, as Hoodline reported.
On June 21, Gaidos, a Brazilian immigrant working as a flower delivery driver, reportedly commented "nice dog" to a passerby while delivering flowers at an apartment building in Oakland's Koreatown. The situation escalated rapidly, according to a friend he was on the phone with at the time, leading to Gaidos' fatal shooting. The devastating event sent shockwaves through the community, as his family and friends demand justice for their loved one. Elvira was identified as the sole suspect from surveillance footage capturing the altercation.
Despite initial difficulties in locating Elvira, a former employer assisted police in identifying him as the suspect. They also reported that electronic data and an inquiry to the DMV helped to connect Elvira to the crime. The recent arrest in Chicago marks a significant step towards obtaining justice for Gaidos and his grieving family.
Gaidos moved to the United States five years ago, escaping street violence in Brazil. The heartbreaking incident has left his parents, Isabel Martines and Antonio Gaidos, who recently arrived from Brazil, in shock. They now call for an end to senseless violence and hope for justice in the tragic loss of their only child.
Meanwhile, friends of Gaidos and members of the community are grappling with the traumatic event in what they believed to be a safe environment. Two friends from Brazil, Dario Pacheco and Guilherme Silva, who also work as delivery drivers in the area, expressed concerns for their safety, stating, "It could be us. Could be another friend. Now, we don't think we're safe outside."
In an effort to support Gaidos' family, a GoFundMe campaign was established to raise funds to transport his body back to Brazil for burial. Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $10,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of the alleged shooter.
