Several people have been injured after a shooting during Juneteenth celebrations in Oakland, California, with police describing the incident as a possible “mass casualty event.”
At least four people were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds after the incident at Lake Merrit Wednesday evening, shortly before 9 p.m.
The violence erupted after a largely peaceful Juneteenth celebration that drew about 5,000 people at the lake earlier in the evening.
Oakland Fire Department spokesman Michael Hunt said the number of people shot or injured could have increased since he was last briefed, advising at 10:24 p.m. CBS News reports.
Police and firefighters were alerted around 9 p.m. after reports of gunfire at Grand and Euclid avenues, where a large crowd had gathered at a sideshow event that had not been approved by government officials, police said.
Several people have been injured after a shooting during Juneteenth celebrations in Oakland, California, with police describing the incident as a possible ‘mass casualty event’
At least four people were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds after the incident at Lake Merrit Wednesday evening, shortly before 9 p.m. In the photo: Dozens of police officers place a cordon around the scene
The violent incident occurred after a largely peaceful Juneteenth celebration that drew about 5,000 people at the lake earlier in the evening. In the photo: Multiple police units responded to the shooting
Witness Tamia Robinson told the story ABC7 News: ‘We were all celebrating, there were sideshows, there were a few fights going on – before we knew it we all thought we heard fireworks so we ran out of the direction.
“The next thing you hear is another ‘boom, boom, boom, boom, boom’ from the other side of the lake.
“We come down here walking, and my sister sprints across the street, where she saw one of her friends lying there.”
Witness Tamira Robinson, of Richmond, told the story KTVU: ‘I am very disappointed.
“It’s a shame that we can’t even come together as a community and enjoy each other, celebrate each other.
‘Celebrate our ancestors without anyone dying.’
Footage posted online by journalist Jaden Shaul of KTVU shows the scene with a heavy police presence in the aftermath of the shooting.
Another video shared by @1SaltyDorito on X shows people scattering from the scene.
Meanwhile, on Instagram, user 28madi_ shared a video of a woman first kneeling on the ground and then several gunshots rang out as she fled the area.
The condition of the four gunshot victims is unknown at this time.
A number of other injuries were also reported.
Paul Chambers, the Oakland Police Department’s strategic communications manager, told KTVU that the event was largely peaceful, with as many as 5,000 people in attendance.
It is believed that 28 officers and four sergeants were present to monitor the activities.
He said a sideshow involving “motorcycles and vehicles” took place at Bellvue and Grand avenues, on the north side of the lake, around 8:15 p.m., and a fight broke out nearby.
Video posted on social media shows a crowd of thousands scattering and running away as gunshots ring out
In another video, a woman was forced to kneel close to the ground as she tried to get to safety from the scene
A crowd of 2,000 to 3,000 people had watched the sideshow, San Jose Mercury reports.
He said, “Several shots rang out during that struggle,” leading to the shooting happening around 8:45 p.m.
Chambers said some officers were struck by the crowd as they tried to move people to safety, including at least one person 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 around I-580 at Grand Avenue as the police investigation continues.
In a statement from the Oakland Police Department, a spokesperson said, “The Oakland Police Department (OPD) is investigating a shooting involving several victims. The incident occurred just 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 on and around Lake Merritt.
“The crowds were quiet until around 8:15 p.m., when an illegal sideshow 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 towards the altercation, several shots were fired.
“Officers found several victims who had been struck by the gunfire.
Medical personnel transported several victims to an area hospital. Additional victims were taken to various hospitals by private transport.
‘There are no reports of fatalities at this time and the exact number of injuries is still under investigation.
“No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting.
“It is unknown at this time if there was one shooter or multiple shooters involved.
“After the shooting, officers attempted to direct the crowd to a safe area.
“During this effort, several individuals in the crowd punched and pushed officers, resulting in minor injuries.
‘One person was arrested for assaulting an officer.
“The events were not sanctioned gatherings.”
Juneteenth is a federal holiday that occurs every year on June 19 and marks the emancipation of slaves in the US. This holiday is also called 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 mark the emancipation of enslaved Americans 155 years earlier.