Oakland Police Seek Suspect Minivan In 'Brother John' Murder

OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- Police say they are looking for a suspect vehicle in the fatal shooting of Paris Powell, an Oakland resident known for feeding the homeless.

The vehicle, wanted in connection with Wednesday's shooting on the 1000 block of 47th Avenue, was described Friday as a turquoise Ford Windstar minivan, with a make year of 2001 or more recent.

Powell was shot around 12:30 a.m. while he, his wife and two stepchildren, ages 3 and 7, were handing out food to homeless people. His wife, who is pregnant, was grazed by a bullet and the 3-year-old received a minor flesh wound.

He was pronounced dead at 10:25 a.m. Wednesday.

There is a $25,000 reward being offered for information in connection with the shooting.

Powell, known as "Brother John" to some, was the president of the Rise Above Foundation, an Oakland-based non-profit organization that offers support for abused women and programs to feed the homeless.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Oakland Police Department's Homicide Section at (510) 238-3821 or oaklandhomicide@oaklandnet.com.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)