'Brother John,' Oakland man known for feeding the needy, shot in head while passing out food

A Califoia man known for feeding the homeless in Oakland was in critical condition after he, his pregnant wife and young stepdaughter were shot while serving a meal to a needy friend.

Paris Powell, 29, had just given a hot plate of fish and chips to William Holloway at around 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday when a car pulled up and a gunman began firing, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Powell was hit in the head and crumpled to the ground next to his van. His 3-year-old stepdaughter was shot in the arm, and his wife was hit in the shoulder, Oakland police said.

"There was not one word," Holloway told the Oakland Tribune. "All those shots, I had to duck. [He] didn't have time to duck."

"The kids and the wife were screaming and hollering."

Powell - known throughout East Oakland as "Brother John" -  was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was on life support as of Wednesday night.

His wife - who is pregnant with his child - and stepdaughter were treated for their injuries and released, the Chronicle said.

Cops didn't have a motive and were hunting for suspects. It's possible that the shooter could have mistaken Powel for someone else, police spokeswoman Sgt. Holly Joshi said.

"It's a very shocking situation," Joshi said. "You have a family out with cooked meals and trying to deliver food to those in need. It's senseless."

Locals said Powell and his family were well-known for driving through Oakland's rough neighborhoods in the middle of the night to deliver hot meals to the hungry.

Many in the homeless community didn't know his real name, calling him "Brother John" instead.

Records show Powell operates the non-profit Rise Above Foundation, which helps the homeless and battered woman.

"He has a good heart," Holloway told the Chronicle. "He's a God-fearing person. He likes to try to help people and that's why he was out here at night, trying to bring food around to help people."

Holloway said he met Powell a last year when he was sleeping a field and Powell brought him some food.

"It doesn't make sense," he said. "I just hope and pray they catch who did this."