Block party planned on anniversary of Berkeley homicide

Fito, who was killed in Berkeley in September 2010.

Six months ago, on Sept. 12, 2010, 35-year-old Adolfo Ignacio Celedón Bravo and his fiancée, Amber Nelson, were walking home from a party when they were ambushed and robbed near Ashby BART. Two assailants shot and killed Celedón.

The randomness of the murder shocked the Berkeley community and the crime is still unsolved.

To mark the six-month anniversary of his death, and to honor the Chilean native, who was known as Fito to his family and friends, Nelson is organizing an all-day block party in Berkeley. It’s the way Fito would have appreciated being remembered, Nelson writes in information she has circulated about the event.

“We will be performing and making art, playing music, and raising awareness of the amazing person Fito was. We also want to remind the community that the horrific murderers who took him away from us are still not charged. Unfortunately finding justice will never bring him back or revoke the pain we feel, but it is the only method we have for making peace with such an inexplicable crime,” Amber writes.

Also at the event will be Fito’s sister, Alejandra Celedón, who has come from Chile to attend. The murder received much media attention in Celedón’s home country.

The event will take place all day on March 12 at Emerson and Adeline across the street from the Ashby BART and Flea Market. There will musical performances and a media conference at 2pm. For more information on Fito and the event visit Craigslist or the Viva Fito website.

The City of Berkeley is offering a $15,000 reward, and Bay Area Crime Stoppers (BACS) is offering an additional $2,000 reward, for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects responsible for the homicide. The Berkeley Police Department is urging anyone with information about the case to get in touch.

Tracey Taylor