Several people were injured after a shooting at Juneteenth celebrations in Oakland, California, and police described the incident as a possible “mass casualty event.”
At least four people were taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds following the incident at Lake Merrit on Wednesday night shortly before 9 p.m.
Violence erupted after a largely peaceful Juneteenth celebration that drew about 5,000 people near the lake that same night.
Oakland Fire Department spokesman Michael Hunt said the number of people shot or injured may have increased since his last update, he reported at 10:24 p.m. CBS News reports.
Police and firefighters were alerted around 9 p.m. after gunshots were reported at Grand and Euclid avenues, where it was found that a large crowd had gathered at a side event, which had not been authorized by public officials, police said. .
Several people were injured after a shooting at Juneteenth celebrations in Oakland, California, and police described the incident as a possible “mass casualty event.”
At least four people were taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds following the incident at Lake Merrit on Wednesday night shortly before 9 p.m. In the image: Dozens of police place a cordon around the place.
The violent incident occurred after a largely peaceful Juneteenth celebration that drew about 5,000 people near the lake that same afternoon. Pictured: Multiple police units responded to the shooting.
Witness Tamia Robinson said ABC7 News: ‘We were all celebrating, there were side shows, a couple of fights going on; The next thing we know, we all thought we heard fireworks, so we fled the address.
‘The next thing you hear is another ‘boom, boom, boom, boom, boom’ from across the lake.
“We came here, walking, and my sister ran across the street, where she saw that one of her friends was lying down.”
Witness Tamira Robinson, of Richmond, said KTVU: ‘I’m very disappointed.
‘It’s a shame we can’t even come together as a community and enjoy each other, celebrate each other.
‘Celebrate our ancestors without them killing anyone.’
Footage posted online by KTVU journalist Jaden Shaul shows the scene with a heavy police presence after the shooting.
Another video shared by @1SaltyDorito on X shows people dispersing from the scene.
Meanwhile, on Instagram, user 28madi_ shared a video of a woman initially kneeling on the ground and then multiple gunshots ringing out as she flees the area.
The health status of the four shooting victims is unknown at this time.
Several other injuries were also reported.
Paul Chambers, strategic communications manager for the Oakland Police Department, told KTVU that the event had been largely peaceful, with up to 5,000 people in attendance.
It is understood 28 officers and four sergeants were there to monitor activities.
He said that around 8:15 p.m., a spectacle involving “motorcycles and vehicles” took place at Bellvue and Grand avenues on the north side of the lake, and a fight broke out nearby.
A video posted on social media shows a crowd of thousands of people dispersing and fleeing the scene amid gunfire.
In another video, a woman was forced to kneel near the ground as she tried to get to safety.
A crowd of 2,000 to 3,000 people had been watching the spectacle, Saint Joseph Mercury reports.
He said, “During that fight, multiple gunshots were heard,” placing the shooting at around 8:45 p.m.
Chambers said some officers were hit by the crowd while trying to move people to safety, and at least one of them was injured. arrested for assaulting an officer.
“We wanted to make sure people had a safe time, but unfortunately that didn’t happen,” he told the San Jose Mercury.
Residents are asked to avoid the area of I-580 at Grand Avenue as police investigations continue.
In a statement released this morning by Oakland police, a spokesperson said: ‘The Oakland Police Department (OPD) is investigating a shooting with multiple victims. The incident occurred shortly 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 approximately 5,000 people participating in events in and around Lake Merritt.
‘The crowd was peaceful until around 8.15pm when an illegal show involving vehicles and motorcycles took place near Grand Avenue and Bellevue Avenue.
‘A short time later, a fight broke out and as the crowd moved toward the altercation, multiple shots were fired.
‘Officers located several victims who were hit by gunfire.
Medical personnel transported several victims to an area hospital. Other victims were taken to various hospitals by private transport.
“At this time there are no reports of fatalities and the exact number of injuries is still under investigation.
‘No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting.
“It is currently unknown whether there was a single shooter or multiple shooters involved.
‘After the shooting, officers attempted to guide the crowd to a safe area.
‘During this effort, some individuals in the crowd punched and pushed officers, causing minor injuries.
‘A person was arrested for assaulting an officer.
“The events were not authorized gatherings.”
Juneteenth is a federal holiday that occurs on June 19 each year, marking the emancipation of slaves in the US and is known as America’s Second Independence Day.
In 2021, President Joe Biden put pen to paper at the White House to make it a federally recognized holiday to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved Americans 155 years earlier.
