Arrests made in chaotic night of violence that left 16 people wounded

In the chaotic aftermath of last Wednesday’s mass shooting near Lake Merritt, the Oakland Police Department overcounted the number of gunshot victims associated with the incident. The reason, a separate and nearly simultaneous double shooting.

Initial reports said there were 15 gunshot victims who were transported to the hospital from the Lake Merritt area. But police have since determined that one of those victims was wounded less than 30 minutes later in a double shooting in the Bella Vista neighborhood. In that turbulent evening, 16 people were shot in the city. 

Police said Tuesday that two arrests have been made in the double shooting, but it has now been nearly a week without an arrest in the mass shooting near Lake Merritt.

After a night of almost unprecedented violence in Oakland, Mayor Sheng Thao had been noticeably silent. The morning after the mass shooting, her home was raided by the FBI. Thao kept out of the public eye for four days, emerging at a news conference on Monday, during which she promised to make the shooting a priority. 

“I am sickened by this senseless act of violence. I want every Oaklander to know that we will work hard, to ensure that those responsible are held accountable,” Thao said.

She also took aim at the FBI and “a handful of billionaires from San Francisco and Piedmont” who, she said, are “hellbent on running me out of office.” 

Since she made that statement, the mayor’s attorney, Tony Brass, and her chief of communications, Francis Zamora, have resigned.

50 rounds fired

Police said Wednesday’s sprawling violence started around 8:45 p.m. in the midst of a sideshow that took over the intersection of Grand and Bellevue avenues. After an observer walked across the hood of one of the participating cars, the vehicle’s passengers jumped out and violently assaulted the individual.

The ensuing chaos led to multiple fights along Grand Avenue, which eventually escalated into gun battles, Police Chief Floyd Mitchell said at a news conference last week. At least 50 rounds were fired, leaving 14 people scattered across multiple blocks with gunshot wounds ranging from minor to critical injuries. Along with the individual who had been assaulted at the start of the incident, all 14 gunshot victims were transported to the hospital.

A video posted on social media showed people crawling on the ground and running across an intersection covered with circular skid marks from the sideshow. More than a dozen gunshots rang out over the course of the short video, some of which came in short three-round bursts. On the sidewalk, multiple victims were lying on the ground motionless while other attendees rendered aid.

“People dying shouldn’t be the way to ‘celebrate’ Juneteenth,” said one person on social media.

“I was at the lake in early afternoon, was really great and had amazing food from vendors. Sad it devolved like this,” another said.

Many people said the same thing in May, when gunfire erupted at the end of Skyline High School’s graduation ceremony, leaving three people wounded. 

Oakland is experiencing a spate of violent crime as well as property crime. Public safety will be at the forefront of the November election, after campaigns to recall Thao and Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price garnered enough signatures to be on the ballot. 

This is not the first time Juneteenth celebrations at Lake Merritt have been marred by gunfire. In 2021, a 22 year-old man was killed and six others were injured when two gunmen opened fire in a crowd.

(Top Photo: Oakland Assistant Police Chief James Beere (left), Chief Floyd Mitchell and Deputy Chief Frederick Shavies.)

Mayor Thao speaks out on FBI raid: ‘This wouldn’t have gone down the way it did if I was rich.’