OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A total of fifteen individuals were shot following an illegal “sideshow” disrupting a peaceful Juneteenth celebration in Oakland, California, according to police reports released on Thursday.
Authorities are currently seeking multiple suspects as more than 50 shell casings were found at the scene of the violence that occurred on Wednesday night at Lake Merritt. However, as of Thursday afternoon, no arrests had been made.
Approximately 20 vehicles, primarily composed of all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes, arrived around 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday and initiated a sideshow on the north side of the lake while 5,000 individuals were attending the Juneteenth event.
Sideshows, also known as street takeovers, typically involve daring stunts such as doughnuts, drifting, and burnouts. Street takeovers often attract large crowds of spectators. Cars block off intersections, halting traffic flow in all directions and complicating law enforcement response. This issue has become prevalent across various cities in the U.S., including Oakland.
Oakland Police Chief Floyd Mitchell mentioned during a news conference on Thursday that an individual walked over the hood of a sideshow vehicle. Subsequently, multiple occupants exited the vehicle and assaulted this individual, resulting in their hospitalization due to injuries sustained.
According to Mitchell, some individuals in the crowd also assaulted police officers during the incident. One woman was arrested for assaulting an officer while the officer was providing first aid to a gunshot victim.
Authorities are currently scouring social media platforms for any leads on the identities of the shooters, as stated by Mitchell.
At least one of the gunshot victims is in critical condition, with ages of the victims ranging from 20 to 30 years old. Injuries sustained include the loss of fingers and minor gunshot wounds.
“The act of celebrating with loved ones should never be overshadowed by acts of violence,” remarked Mitchell.
June 19, known as Juneteenth, commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved individuals in Galveston, Texas were informed of their emancipation after the culmination of the Civil War and two years subsequent to President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
Juneteenth was established as a federal holiday in 2021 and has since gained recognition beyond the Black community. Many individuals have the day off from work or school, and various street festivals, fairs, concerts, and events are organized to observe the occasion.
In 2021, a shooting incident during a Juneteenth celebration at Lake Merritt resulted in multiple injuries and the death of a 22-year-old man from San Francisco.
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