Juan Alberto Diaz Carazas, or “Don Juan” as he is commonly known, is an 82-year-old man who was selling ice cream in the Oakland neighborhood Fruitvale when two armed men robbed him around noon on July 17.
Mr. Juan was in the 3900 block of East 18th Street when the robbers jumped out of a vehicle and turned out the ice cream man’s pockets, stealing $120. According to NBC Bay Area, Mr. Juan thought he was going to get shot and feared for his life.
Don Juan told NBC Bay Area that it was the eighth time in 10 years working as an ice cream vendor that he had been robbed. Moreover, it was the third armed robbery he had experienced within the span of a week.
According to NBC Bay Area, Mr. Juan would love to live a relaxed life but sells ice cream in order to support his autistic son’s living expenses in Peru. He isn’t sure when he’s going to sell ice cream again, but he said his family needs him.
Oakland police are currently investigating but don’t have any suspects in custody.
On July 22 at 11 a.m., Oakland residents came together for a fundraiser to show their support for Mr. Juan, organizing a buyout. Dozens of people lined up at the ice cream vendor’s cart, buying his entire stock and moving Mr. Juan to tears.
Oakland native Keith “KJ” Lewis, who runs a vinyl car wrapping business with his wife, said he’s seen too many small local businesses get robbed.
He told NBC Bay Area, “For him to be as old as he is, to be doing what he’s doing, for that situation to take place, you know, it kind of hit home for me.”
Mr. Lewis gave Mr. Juan $500 and a hug.
He told The Epoch Times he gave Mr. Juan the money “to show him as a community we have his back and support him.
“I don’t know him personally but wanted to show my love and support for him,” he said. “As a fellow East Oaklander born and raised, it’s important to me to give back to the community I grew up in. Especially with the spike in crime and violence in Oakland, I feel like I have an obligation to show that there are still good people that come from Oakland.”
Two GoFundMes were set up for Mr. Juan in an effort to help recover his lost funds. According to the anonymous group that set up one of the GoFundMes, Mr. Juan had informed them that he was unable to pay this month’s rent, along with other living expenses.
Currently, the GoFundMes have garnered over 1,600 donations, raising over $44,000.
