Leftist Bakery Owner Killed in Robbery – Family Asks to Respect Their Ideology and Not Prosecute the Perpetrators

Update, Feb. 9, 8 p.m.

According to a message sent by the friends and family of Jennifer Angel, the founder of Oakland’s Angel Cakes bakery, Angel died at 5:48 p.m. Thursday evening after doctors confirmed that she had lost all brain function. After an Uptown Oakland robbery, Angel sustained severe injuries and was placed on life support at Highland Hospital.

The message, which is published in full below, noted Angel’s longstanding work as an activist, and urged those mourning her passing not to “continue the cycle of harm by bringing state-sanctioned violence to those involved in her death or to other members of Oakland’s rich community.”

Angel Cakes will still be open according to the message. “supported by Jen’s estate, and staffed by the talented team that Jen built.” Gift certificates may be purchased at 745 5th St. (at Brush Street) for those who wish support the organization. The announcement stated that those who want to honor her legacy should contact in “leading with love, centering the needs of the most vulnerable, and not resorting to vengeance and inflicting more harm.”

Family and Friends of Jen Angel have the full message

It’s with very heavy hearts that we announce that Oakland baker, small business owner, social justice activist, and community member Jen Angel has been medically declared to have lost all brain function and will not regain consciousness. Her official time of passing was 5:48 PM (PT).

Jen’s loved ones and friends want the story of Jen’s last chapter to be focused on her dedication to her community, the care given to her and her family over the years, and on her bravery and generosity of so many health care workers who fought to save her life. We know Jen would not want to continue the cycle of harm by bringing state-sanctioned violence to those involved in her death or to other members of Oakland’s rich community. 

As a long-time social movement activist and anarchist, Jen did not believe in state violence, carceral punishment, or incarceration as an effective or just solution to social violence and inequity. Jen’s friends and family received support and care. It is a powerful demonstration of Jen’s response to harm. Jen believed in community members being able to depend on each other, leading in love, focusing on the needs and not resorting back to violence or inflicting additional harm. 

Jen believed in a world where everyone has the ability to live a dignified and joyful life and worked toward an ecologically sustainable and deeply participatory society in which all people have access to the things they need, decisions are made by those most directly affected by them, and all people are free and equal. 

Angel Cakes, the popular community-based bakery that Jen founded in 2008, will remain open, supported by Jen’s estate, and staffed by the talented team that Jen built. The bakery welcomes community members to help by buying gift certificates and making long-term patronage commitments.

Per Jen’s wishes, her organs will be donated, and her committed medical team has informed the family that those organs will serve to lengthen and improve the lives of up to 70 people.  

The family is determined to pursue every alternative to traditional prosecution such as restorative Justice if the Oakland Police Department makes an arrested in this case. Jen’s family and close friends ask that the media respect this request and carry forward the story of her life with celebration and clarity about the world she aimed to build. Jen’s family and friends ask that stories referencing Jen’s life do not use her legacy of care and community to further inflame narratives of fear, hatred, and vengeance, nor to advance putting public resources into policing, incarceration, or other state violence that perpetuates the cycles of violence that resulted in this tragedy. 

We wish for Jen’s legacy to be one of deep commitment to safety and dignity for everyone.

Original report, February 8, 2013, 1:50 p.m.

Jennifer Angel, the founder of Angel Cakes, a nearly-seven-year-old Oakland bakery, is fighting for her life today after a robbery gone wrong in Uptown Oakland. She is currently in hospital. “grave” The Oaklandside received word Wednesday from police about the condition. People close to her believe it will be. “several days” before it’s known if she will recover.

Angel is a former book publicist who started her career in 2008 as a cupcake maker. Baking “is by far the most pleasurable job I’ve ever had,” She spoke to East Bay Nosh 2016She turned her passion into a profitable business when she opened the first store. Angel Cakes at 745 5th St., inside Oakland’s iconic TJ’s Gingerbread House building.

Angel was out running errands on Monday for her business, which included a stop at Wells Fargo near Webster and 21st streets with Ocean Mottley, her fiancé. The San Francisco Chronicle. According to an Oakland Police Department spokesperson, it happened around 12:30 on that afternoon. “an individual broke into” Angel’s car while she was in it and stole an item from her, then ran back “to a waiting vehicle.”

Police said Angel ran after her car and jumped out, according to police. “While the victim struggled for their belongings, they were knocked to the ground and sustained injuries.” According to A crime brief published in the San Jose Mercury News on Monday that did not name Angel as the victim, she was somehow snagged by the suspects’ car door, “and was dragged more than 50 feet before falling free in the middle of the street.”

Angel’s close friends have revealed that Angel is a private social media user. “receiving great care” at Highland Hospital’s trauma unit. “Jen was initially stable when she reached the hospital,” One such post is here. “but her brain swelling increased to the point that she was rushed to emergency surgery several hours after the incident.”

Angel remains in a medically-induced coma. According to the poster, attempts to reduce swelling have not succeeded. It is not clear if Angel will regain consciousness.

“She is currently on life support,” The poster stated, “and there may be no clarity about her prognosis for several days.”

Angel Cakes workers confirmed that Angel Cakes is still open to The Oaklandside when The Oaklandside reached them. “though we’re a little overwhelmed now,” They said. According to Moira Birss, a friend of Angel’s Who is updating Caring Bridge with updates about her health, a website that helps provide information to friends and family of those negotiating health crises, Angel’s friends “are assisting [Angel Cakes workers] at keeping the business running during this interim period.”

Birss A GoFundMe was also launched To “go toward the various expenses that may arise, including medical care for Jen, support for her partner Ocean in covering household and related expenses, for her mom in covering travel and living expenses, and for Angel Cakes bakery.”

Oakland police have not yet made any arrests, but they describe the attempted robbery of Angel as an ongoing investigation. The Merc however states that the investigation is ongoing. “investigators believe the suspects are responsible for several similar robberies and vehicle break-ins in the city.”

Anybody with information about the case is requested to contact OPD at (510) 238-3326. Crime Stoppers of Oakland offers additional assistance. “up to $7,500” For information leading to arrest of suspects, call 510-777-872

This is an ongoing story. Stay tuned for new updates.

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