Tragic Death of Jen Angel, Founder of Angel Cakes Bakery in Oakland
In a heart-breaking development, Jen Angel, the founder and owner of Angel Cakes bakery, died on Friday after a violent encounter with thieves during a robbery attempt in Uptown Oakland.[0] According to US media reports, Jen Angel was dragged by a vehicle right after being robbed, resulting in serious injuries.[1] After being taken to the hospital, she remained in a ‘grave' condition for more than 48 hours before ultimately succumbing to her injuries at 5:48 p.m. (US Time).
Jen Angel, 48, was a long-time caterer and baker who opened her bakery, Angel Cakes, in 2008 in the former home of TJ’s Gingerbread House, a Creole restaurant.[2] The bakery is located at 745 Fifth St. in Oakland.[3]
While Angel was parked outside a bank on Webster Street in Oakland on Monday, a thief broke into her car and snatched her purse.[2] Police stated that the robber quickly ran to a vehicle that was nearby and ready to take off.[4]
According to a statement from Angel’s medical team, her donated organs “will serve to lengthen and improve the lives of up to 70 people.”[5] According to the statement, her organs will be donated and the bakery will continue to be operational with the help of Angel's inheritance.[6]
For years, Jen has been an active advocate for social movements and an anarchist, rejecting state violence, penal retribution, and imprisonment as viable or equitable responses to social injustice and violence.[7] The family is committed to pursuing all available alternatives to traditional prosecution, such as restorative justice.[8] Jen's loved ones implore the media to honor this appeal and continue to emphasize her life with admiration and truthfulness about the reality she sought to create.[8]
Oakland Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $7,500 in reward money for information leading to the arrests of the suspects.[9] The police can be contacted at 510-238-3326 or 510-238-7950, while Crime Stoppers can be reached at 510-777-8572 if anyone has[10]
The beloved bakery, Angel Cakes, started by Jen in 2008, will stay in operation, funded by her estate, and overseen by the same team she assembled.[8] Those in the community who wish to show their support for the bakery can do so by purchasing gift certificates and by committing to being long-term customers.[1]
0. “$10K reward offered in violent death of beloved Oakland baker” KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco, 11 Feb. 2023, https://www.ktvu.com/news/10k-reward-offered-in-violent-death-of-beloved-oakland-baker
1. “Who was Jen Angel? Oakland's Angel Cakes bakery owner dies of injuries sustained in robbery” True Scoop, 10 Feb. 2023, https://www.truescoopnews.com/newsdetail/who-was-jen-angel-oaklands-angel-cakes-bakery-owner-dies-of-injuries-sustained-in-robbery
2. “Oakland Bakery Owner Gravely Injured After Attempted Robbery Gone Wrong” SFist, 9 Feb. 2023, https://sfist.com/2023/02/09/oakland-bakery-owner-gravely-injured-after-attempted-robbery/
3. “Owner of Angel Cakes was gravely injured after an attempted robbery” San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Feb. 2023, https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/oakland-bakery-owner-injured-17771965.php
4. “Beloved Oakland bakery owner dies after violent robbery, friends say” msnNOW, 10 Feb. 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/beloved-oakland-bakery-owner-dies-after-violent-robbery-friends-say/ar-AA17jER1?ocid=weather-verthp-feeds
5. “Owner of Angel Cakes bakery, Jennifer Angel, dies after being dragged 50 feet by suspect's car during Oakland robbery” KGO-TV, 10 Feb. 2023, https://abc7news.com/oakland-robbery-angle-cakes-jennifer-angel-bakery-owner/12792507/
6. “California bakery owner dead after armed robbery” Fox News, 10 Feb. 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-bakery-owner-dead-armed-robbery
7. “Family of Oakland baker who died in robbery doesn't want perpetrators sent to jail” San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Feb. 2023, https://www.sfchronicle.com/eastbay/article/oakland-baker-s-family-says-perpetrators-17776942.php
8. “Calif. Bakery Owner Dies Days After Violent Attack in Broad Daylight” PEOPLE, 10 Feb. 2023, https://people.com/crime/calif-bakery-owner-dies-violent-attack
9. “Friends affirm late Oakland bakery owner’s continuing impact” East Bay Times, 10 Feb. 2023, https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2023/02/09/friends-affirm-late-oakland-bakery-owners-continuing-impact
10. “Well-known Oakland baker Jennifer Angel critically injured during brazen purse snatching” msnNOW, 10 Feb. 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/well-known-oakland-baker-jennifer-angel-critically-injured-during-brazen-purse-snatching/ar-AA17icZG?ocid=weather-verthp-feeds