Five people were hit by stray bullets during a July 4 fireworks show at the Oakland Arena, in which police believe it was a “celebration” shooting from somewhere outside the ballpark.
Three fans were treated on Monday night for injuries caused by shrapnel, after crowds gathered on the field for a post-match fireworks display. Officers said the gunfire began around 9:30 p.m.
The fourth victim then went to a local hospital, and on Tuesday the fifth victim called the police. Police have released few details about the victims, except to say that there were no life-threatening injuries. A law enforcement source said the youngest victim was 12 years old.
An initial ballistics analysis showed at least some of the shrapnel came from a high-powered rifle, Sheriff LeRonne Armstrong told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday.
Gunfire broke out at a joyful time for A’s fans, followed by the team beat Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 on Monday night, attracting 24,403 fans. It also ended a tumultuous weekend in Oakland in which the city saw three murders, including a murder-suicide in the Adams Point neighborhoodArmstrong said.
As of Tuesday, Oakland had recorded 55 homicides this year, plus two more. Although stray bullet injuries have not occurred at previous Coliseum fireworks shows, the shrill gunfire on July 4 is a long-term problem, Armstrong said.
“When a bullet is fired into the air, that bullet will fall and fall at a lower velocity than when fired, even though it is still a powerful bullet,” Armstrong said.
“This is why we warn people not to use guns indiscriminately in the community,” he said.
The officers passed through the Colosseum, and they believe bullets were fired outside the site – possibly as far as a mile – based on the number of calls they received about gunshots in the area. area that night.
Several shootings have also occurred in Oakland over the weekend, one that left a 3-year-old child seriously injured. Police are investigating a relative of the child in that case, Armstrong said.
John Jones III, an Oakland violence prevention officer who attended the game with his son, said that security officers had temporarily blocked a section of the road leading up to the pedestrian crossing. Coliseum BART station, creating a bottleneck when fans leave the venue. The guards cleared the way after about 10 minutes, Jones said. He did not see any law enforcement and said no one advised the crowd that a shooting had occurred.
“It’s not a scene,” Jones said. Three other attendees interviewed by The Chronicle said they saw nothing out of the ordinary but numerous fake fireworks.
Police offer a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with a tip can call the department’s felony assault unit at 510-238-3426. In the release statement, the department pledged to continue to work closely with A’s security to ensure the safety of everyone attending future games.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Blue Jays, A’s manager Mark Kotsay urged fans not to worry too much, saying he considers the Colosseum to be “a safe environment” all”.
On July 4, “people tend to do things that aren’t normal,” Kotsay said, adding that it was “unfortunate” to see such recklessness near the Colosseum.
Chronicle Matthew Kawahara contributed to this report.
Rachel Swan is a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan