OAKLAND, Calif. — Just months after his release from a 30-year prison stint for a high-profile murder, Lavell Stewart Jr. embarked on a mission to transform his life and positively influence the youth of East Bay. However, his aspirations came to a sudden end when he was fatally shot by an unidentified gunman in West Oakland, nearly 18 months after he regained his freedom.
On May 18, near the intersection of 14th and Campbell Streets—a place Stewart was known to frequent—his life was tragically cut short. Local authorities report that despite an ongoing investigation, leads remain scarce with no arrests made, and the motive appears to be a deliberate act targeting Stewart.
Stewart had been incarcerated for the murder of 21-year-old Akbar Bey, the child of the Your Black Muslim Bakery founder, Yusuf Bey. The 1996 conviction came after the younger Bey was gunned down outside the Omni Club on Shattuck Avenue in September 1994. At the time, the police suggested that a robbery wherein Stewart lost $1,200 worth of marijuana may have fueled the confrontation. Stewart and his associate, identified only by the moniker “Fat Lester,” were accused of shooting Bey after a heated exchange.
Despite the allegations, Stewart fervently maintained his innocence over the decades. However, his conviction was largely supported by multiple eyewitness accounts and was consistently upheld through appeals. In his prison communications, Stewart expressed a belief that his trial was compromised by juror biases and an overbearing victim’s family influence.
Yet the narrative took a turn once Stewart was released from prison in October 2022. In a revealing podcast interview in September 2023, he withdrew his previous accusations against Bey and took responsibility for his actions, reflecting on the “quick-tempered decision” rooted in his tumultuous upbringing surrounded by violence and criminal activities.
His post-release days were filled with community service, particularly focusing on the mentorship of youngsters at Lincoln Elementary School in Richmond. Stewart engaged in workshops preaching nonviolence and providing a listening ear to children trapped in cycles of violence—the very circumstances that once enveloped his youth.
Stewart’s story is intertwined with the controversial history of Your Black Muslim Bakery, an iconic yet troubled Oakland institution founded by Yusuf Bey. Following Yusuf Bey’s death in 2004 while facing charges of sexual abuse, his legacy was further tarnished when his another son, Yusuf Bey IV, orchestrated the killing of Oakland journalist Chauncey Bailey among other crimes, landing him a life sentence without parole.
The violent legacy seemingly persisted, impacting not just the families involved but the entire community. Stewart, in his final days, emphasized a fuller understanding of gun violence’s root causes aligning with personal childhood trauma. His candid reflections and community activism represented a stark contrast to his past, marked by the infamous 1996 trial.
Neighbors and activists note that despite the radical transformations Oakland has undergone over the decades, the stains of violence have lingered, impacting new generations. Stewart’s endeavors, however brief, were seen as a beacon of hope— a testament to the potential for redemption and the vital importance of intervention in the lives of at-risk youth.
Although Stewart’s intention to amend his earlier life’s wrongs through advocacy and mentoring promised a new chapter for many, his untimely demise has left a void in the community. His story underscores the ongoing struggle against systemic violence in urban settings and illustrates how deeply personal transformations can inspire broader communal healing, even if they are tragically cut short.