Man Killed by BART Police Honored by Hundreds

Updated 4:45 PM PST, Wed, Jan 7, 2009

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A man who was fatally shot by a Bay Area Rapid Transit police officer on New Year's Day was remembered today at a funeral in Hayward as a loving father who liked to swim, play baseball and fish.

About 700 people attended the funeral for 22-year-old Oscar Grant III, which was held at Palma Ceia Baptist Church.

Sister Donna Smith of the Palma Ceia church, said Grant, the father of a 4-year-old daughter, "loved the Bible when he was growing up," and had the loudest voice in the church choir.

The Rev. James Word said, "I thought Oscar was going to be a preacher but God had other plans."

Word recalled that Grant, who worked as a butcher at an Oakland grocery store, came to his office one day to tell him how happy he was when he became an apprentice meat cutter.

The Rev. Ronald Coleman, who presided at the funeral service, said, "this is something that the world is watching. They wonder if we will start a fight or a civil commotion."

But Coleman told the audience, "We must respond with prudence."

Coleman said, "I understand that some of you youngsters are upset, but nonetheless we have to trust in God. This is not your fight."

A short time after his funeral ended today, BART officials announced that the officer who shot Grant, Johannes Mehserle, had resigned.

BART spokesman Linton Johnson said Mehserle has received death threats and has had to move twice to ensure his safety.

Attorney John Burris filed a $25 million wrongful death claim on Tuesday against BART on behalf of Grant's family.

Also Wednesday, BART trains passed through the Fruitvale station without stopping for a time because of a protest taking place there, a BART dispatcher said.

Groups were rallying to protest the shooting.

For safety reasons, the trains passed through the station in both directions without stopping until the crowd left, a dispatcher said.