Oakland

ATF Finishes Work at Warehouse, But Fire Probe Long From Completed

Mourners still gathering at site where 36 people died; some attend multiple victim benefits

Federal investigators from the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms announced Sunday they have completed their work at the so-called Ghost Ship warehouse in Oakland, where 36 people died in a fire Dec. 2.

The ATF left the scene of the country's deadliest building fire in more than 13 years, but the agency made a point of saying its investigation is far from over.

Officials will hold a news conference Tuesday to provide updates.

As Oakland police were removing barriers from the site, people continued gathering to mourn.

One group of family and friends moved in to get a closer look, and many who converged along 31st Avenue helped move flowers and candles from a massive makeshift memorial and placed them in front of a fence that surrounds what’s left of the burned building.

Across the bay, at the Mezzanine in San Francisco, family and friends of victims, along with many in the arts communities in Oakland and San Francisco, attended the Oakland Fire Relief benefit concert featuring Moby.

Those in attendance said they're trying to make it to as many victims' benefits as possible. Tayler Williams, who works in music, came early to line up for the show.

"A lot people foster their creativity in this community so it's definitely really important for us to show our support," Williams said.

The parents of victim Joseph Matlock, who goes by Joey Casio, said he had a love of music and a kind heart. He was an electronic musician who was scheduled to perform that night. They remember a song called "Share the Cup."

"This was Joey, that he would share anything and he looked out for others. First others, then himself," John Matlock said about his son. "Spare the sword. Joey was a peacemaker. He would look for consideration instead of hostility in every environment he was in, and that song to us really epitomizes the personality of the son we have left."

The Matlocks hail from Washington state. They said they’re happy to discover a whole new community of people, fabulous artists, who loved their son.

Contact Us