A wave of robberies targeting cannabis businesses in East Oakland claimed another life this week, as Wayne Shaw, the 61-year-old brother of rapper Too Short, was fatally shot while attempting to protect his thriving marijuana farm. The shooting, which occurred on January 30, highlights ongoing challenges faced by local dispensary owners and growers who say they are under siege from theft and violent crime.
Shaw confronted alleged intruders outside his East Oakland facility when they reportedly attempted to break into the property. The confrontation quickly escalated, and he was shot multiple times. Police responding to reports of gunfire found Shaw critically wounded, and despite emergency efforts, he was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Authorities have yet to identify the suspects.
A bullet-riddled Honda Civic was discovered abandoned near the crime scene at 50th Avenue and International Boulevard. The car’s owner, whose identity has not been disclosed, told reporters it had been stolen the night before. Investigators are working to determine how the vehicle is connected to the killing as they piece together the details of the crime.
Shaw’s death reflects a broader crisis for Oakland’s cannabis businesses, many of which have been repeatedly targeted by thieves. Tucky Blunt, a local entrepreneur and former dispensary owner, said ongoing burglaries were the primary reason he shut down his East Oakland store, Blunts and Moore. “We’re trying to conduct regular, normal business and have to protect it like we’re a bank,” Blunt said in an interview.
Ironically, the fatal shooting occurred near Too $hort Way, a section of Foothill Boulevard renamed in 2022 to honor the rapper’s contributions to the city. Shaw’s killing underscores growing concerns over public safety and crime prevention in the Bay Area’s cannabis sector, as law enforcement continues its investigation and the community grapples with the loss.
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