Multiple People Shot at Oakland Juneteenth Celebration

A violent incident marred the Juneteenth celebration in Oakland on Wednesday night, as over a dozen people were shot during the event. The Oakland Police Department (OPD) reported that a total of 16 individuals were transported to the hospital, with 15 of them sustaining gunshot wounds and one being assaulted. The Juneteenth gathering had been largely peaceful until approximately 8:30 p.m., when a sideshow involving around 20 cars and motorcycles erupted on the north side of Lake Merritt.

Approximately 15 minutes later, a fight broke out near the sideshow, escalating into a series of gunshots. OPD officers swiftly intervened, attempting to escort people to safety. However, they faced resistance from some bystanders in a nearby crowd, resulting in minor injuries to several officers who were punched during their efforts. One individual was arrested for assaulting an officer. Notably, no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting itself, according to OPD.

The scene of the incident revealed the severity of the situation, with more than 50 shell casings from fired shots discovered by authorities. It is important to note that the Juneteenth celebration at Lake Merritt was not officially sanctioned, and the events that unfolded were not part of any organized program. Despite this, an estimated 5,000 people gathered at the lake to commemorate the historic day.

OPD Police Chief Floyd Mitchell explained that the police response was initially diverted due to a homicide in West Oakland, which required immediate attention and resources. Mitchell emphasized the challenge of allocating limited resources to handle multiple shooting incidents simultaneously, stating that police cannot be in two places at once. In light of the recent events, additional police resources will be deployed to patrol Lake Merritt during the upcoming July 4th celebrations.