News from: Oakland Police Department
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 10, 2020
Austin, Denver, Nashville, and San Antonio are among the nation’s major cities witnessing a dramatic spike in homicides. The city of Oakland has also experienced an unsettling rise in violent crime recently. Since Thursday, August 6, 2020, five people tragically lost their lives in our city to gun violence.
To date, 51 people have been the victims of homicides in Oakland, compared to 46 people at the same time last year. Investigators have solved nearly half of the homicides in 2020.
We continue to direct resources to areas most impacted by violence and trauma as we work to deter further violence and identify those responsible. Since the beginning of the year, OPD has recovered nearly 540 guns related to crimes, which is a 20% increase over the same time last year. OPD’s Ceasefire Team, along with the independent Department of Violence Prevention and Community Partners continue to work towards reducing gun violence by identifying groups and gangs that are driving the crime.
The safety of our community is paramount. Our department strives to reduce and deter crime to keep our residents and visitors safe. However, when an illegal sideshow or violent disruptive protests that cause extensive property damage and vandalism arise, it depletes our already understaffed officers from patrolling impacted areas and focusing on quality of life crimes.
The Oakland Police Department and the City are calling on our community to stand with us, “to put the guns down and end the violence.” We ask each of you, “if you know something say something.” Together we continue our focus on improving public safety.
Led by community efforts, the City of Oakland decreased shootings and homicides by 50% in just five years, the most dramatic decrease in a major city, according to the Giffords Law Center.
“Our model for crime reduction has been recognized as a national model, and we will continue to work closely and diligently with our trusted community partners to reduce the violence that traumatizes too many families in Oakland. All of us, working together, can help stop the tragic loss of life in our city, and ensure that all Oaklanders can live in a safe community,” says Oakland Interim Police Chief Susan E. Manheimer.
August 2020 Homicides:
On August 9, 2020, at 12:19 AM, officers responded to the 8600 block of Holly Street on a report of a shooting and solo vehicle crash. When officers arrived on scene they located two adult males one suffering from gunshot wounds and pronounced deceased on scene. The second victim suffered other injuries and was transported to a local hospital and is listed in stable condition.
On August 8, 2020, at 10:10 PM, officers responded to the 1400 block of 72nd Avenue on a report of a shooting. When officers arrived on scene they located two adult males suffering from gunshot wounds. One male succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene. The other male was transported to a local hospital and is listed in stable condition.
On August 8, 2020, at 5:59 PM, officers responded to Lakeshore Avenue and Mandana Boulevard on a report of a shooting. When officers arrived on scene they located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wounds. The victim was pronounced deceased on scene.
On August 7, 2020, at 11:51 PM, officers responded to the 1500 block of 92nd Avenue on a report of a shooting. When officers arrived on scene they located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was pronounced deceased on scene.
On August 6, 2020, at 9:59 PM, officers were dispatched to the 4500 block of Fairfax Avenue on a report of a shooting. When officers arrived on scene they located four male adults suffering from gunshot wounds. One of the victims was pronounced deceased on scene. The other three victims were transported to a local hospital and are listed in stable condition.
On August 1, 2020, at 2:51 PM, officers were dispatched to the 2200 block of 35th Avenue on a report of a shooting. When officers arrived on scene they located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound and pronounced deceased on scene. The other male adult victim was transported to a local hospital and is listed in stable condition.