Several people were shot at a Juneteenth celebration in Oakland, California, which turned violent, police said.
Wednesday night’s event on Lake Merritt was largely peaceful, with as many as 5,000 people in attendance, but around 8:15 p.m., a sideshow involving “motorcycles and vehicles” took place on the north side of the lake, according to a police news release Thursday.
Police said a fight broke out in the street near the sideshow venue and a crowd gathered near the scene of the fight.
“Multiple gunshots were heard during that engagement,” said Paul Chambers, OPD’s strategic communications manager.
The shooting happened at 8:45 p.m.
The number of injured was not immediately clear, but police said several people were taken to hospital with gunfire. No deaths were reported.
As officers tried to evacuate the crowd to safety, several people punched OPD officers, Chambers said.
At least one person was detained for assaulting an officer, he said.
Police did not say how many officers were attacked.
As many as 20 police vehicles and several ambulances were at the scene. KTVU-TV reported.
Police said 28 officers and four sergeants were at the scene to monitor the incident.
Revelers argued with police, with some criticizing the police response for not responding quickly enough when injuries occurred, KTVU reported.
In 2021, a shooting occurred during a Juneteenth celebration in Lake Merritt, injuring several people and leaving a 22-year-old San Francisco man dead.
Police said the investigation into Wednesday night’s shooting remains ongoing.
