Oakland Juneteenth mass shooting ruins holiday in the city.
An Oakland Juneteenth celebration at Lake Merritt erupted into violence Wednesday night. There is word of multiple people being shot, but nothing has been confirmed by police.
Oakland Police Department Press Release
For Immediate Release: June 20, 2024
OPD Investigates Shooting with Multiple Injuries
The Oakland Police Department (OPD) is investigating a shooting with several victims. The incident occurred just after 8:45 p.m. on June 19, 2024, in the 400 block of Grand Avenue.
The preliminary investigation revealed that 28 officers and four sergeants monitored crowds of roughly 5,000 people participating in events at and around Lake Merritt. The crowds were peaceful until around 8:15 p.m. when an illegal sideshow involving vehicles and motorbikes occurred near Grand Avenue and Bellevue Avenue. A short time later, a fight broke out, and as the crowd headed towards the altercation, multiple shots were fired. Officers located several victims who were struck by the gunfire.
Medical personnel transported several victims to an area hospital. Additional victims were taken to various hospitals by private transportation. At this time, there are no reports of fatalities, and the exact number of those injured is still under investigation. No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting. It is currently unknown if there was a single shooter or multiple shooters involved.
Following the shootings, officers attempted to guide the crowd into a safe area. During this effort, some individuals in the crowd punched and pushed officers, resulting in minor injuries. One person was taken into custody for assaulting an officer.
The events were not sanctioned gatherings.
This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPD Felony Assault Unit at (510) 238-3426. If you have any videos or photos that could assist with the investigation, please send them to [email protected]