OAKLAND — Sixteen people were hospitalized Wednesday evening after an outbreak of violence at a Juneteenth celebration near Lake Merritt in Oakland, Oakland Police Chief Floyd Mitchell said.
At least 15 people were shot, one suffered injuries unrelated to a gunshot and some officers were attacked after a sideshow erupted into fighting and then gunfire in the 400 block of Grand Avenue, Mitchell said at a news conference Thursday.
Police have made an arrest for assaulting an officer, but no arrests have been made for the shootings or other violence.
About 20 vehicles, including ATVs and dirt bikes, started an illegal sideshow around 8:15 p.m., Mitchell said. During the sideshow, someone walked on the hood of a vehicle, which led to several people exiting the car and “violently assaulting” the person. This then led to multiple fights breaking out along Grand Avenue between Euclid and Bellevue Avenues.
“Unfortunately, these fights escalated with multiple people discharging firearms and over 50 shell casings were recovered,” Mitchell said.
As officers arrived and began rendering aid to injured people, Mitchell said individuals in the crowd began attacking officers. Deputy Chief James Beere said officers were struck in the face and upper body.
A total of 15 people went to the hospital with gunshot wounds and one person was treated for an undisclosed injury. The victims are between 20 and 30 years old, Mitchell said. Their injuries ranged from minor gunshot or flesh wounds to loss of fingers. One person remained in critical condition on Thursday afternoon.
The Oakland Police Officers Association blamed the violence against police on understaffing in the department.
“If city leaders truly value public safety, we must make serious considerations about adequately staffing the Oakland Police Department,” said a statement released by the union Thursday. “Yesterday alone, our officers were challenged and handled a homicide case, multiple shootings and an incident involving a person armed with a rifle, in addition to the Juneteenth celebration.”
Mitchell and Beere pushed back on the idea that there weren’t enough officers to handle the Juneteenth event, saying there were 100 officers on patrol Wednesday evening, 30 of whom were at the lake.
“You have to understand this is a big city,” Mitchell said. “We had special officers there to ensure good visibility there.”
Mitchell also said some officers were called to a report of someone with a gun in West Oakland, and before that, a homicide.
Mitchell said the Oakland Police Department will enlist the help of other law enforcement agencies this summer, and that his department will restrict traffic flow in the area of the fight to reduce the chance of incidents. He also said an increased police presence will be planned for July 4.
“The opportunity to celebrate with your family and friends should never be marred by gunfire,” Mitchell said, adding that the department will “work tirelessly” to identify and arrest the suspects involved in Wednesday’s shootings.
