Three victims of West Oakland shooting in critical condition
on November 29, 2011
Seven people, including a 1-year-old child, were injured in a shooting on the 700 block of Willow Street in West Oakland Monday evening. The shooting, which happened at approximately 6:30 pm, injured five men, one woman and 1-year-old Hiram Lawrence, who is currently in critical condition.
“This is a senseless act of violence and an investigative priority for the Police Department,” said Oakland police chief Howard Jordan in a statement released Tuesday evening. “This type of activity will not be tolerated.”
Early Monday evening, several individuals began shooting into a crowd of 20 to 30 people, and gunfire was exchanged between the two groups, according to a press release from the Oakland Police Department. OPD officers arrived on the scene and learned that the seven victims had been taken to local hospitals to be treated for gun shot wounds. One male victim, the woman and the child are currently in critical condition, said the press release.
“This was a senseless and cowardly act. As a mother, my heart aches for the family,” stated Mayor Jean Quan in the press release. “This tragedy demands immediate and swift action, which the City, the Police Department and our law enforcement partners throughout the region have already taken.”
The motive for the shootings is still being investigated, and OPD is asking for anyone with information to call or text the Major Crimes Unit tip line at 510-773-2805. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $35,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case.
Oakland North will continue to follow this story.
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The AC Transit 800 trans-bay bus travels through that intersection. If attacked, I’m sure the passengers would successfully repel any assault. They are tough men and women.