Two individuals were fatally shot and two others were wounded during a verbal dispute that escalated into violence on Saturday morning in East Oakland, according to authorities. The Oakland Police Department responded to the incident on the 1600 block of 83rd Ave. just after 9 a.m. where they discovered four victims with gunshot injuries. Tragically, two of the victims succumbed to their injuries at the scene, while the other two were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The shooting unfolded following a verbal altercation among several individuals, with one person brandishing a firearm and firing multiple shots before fleeing the scene in a vehicle, as stated by the police. The identities of the victims have not been disclosed pending notification of their next of kin.
Oakland, a city with a population of 400,000, has grappled with crime and concerns regarding public safety. Mayor Sheng Thao currently faces a recall election scheduled for November, alongside the county’s district attorney, Pamela Price. In a separate incident, the FBI raided Mayor Thao’s residence in June as part of an investigation involving searches at other properties linked to a politically influential family that owns a recycling business. Mayor Thao has denied any wrongdoing in connection to the investigation.