What started as a demand for a scooter and a cell phone turned into a shooting yesterday in East Oakland, leaving a 17-year-old boy hospitalized with a gunshot wound, authorities said.
The attempted robbery unfolded at about 11:15 PM in the 2200 block of 81st Avenue, when a suspect confronted the teen and demanded his scooter and phone before opening fire. The teen was hit in the leg, treated for his injuries, and is in stable condition, according to police.
What investigators are looking for
Police have not released a detailed description of the shooter, according to The Mercury News. Officers said the suspect fled in a vehicle that had at least two other people inside, and detectives are now combing through surveillance and cellphone video in an effort to identify who was involved. Investigators are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward.
Oakland police ask for video and tips
Per a news release from the Oakland Police Department, anyone with footage or tips is asked to call the Robbery Unit at (510) 238-3326 or email [email protected]. The department is specifically asking residents to preserve, not post, any cellphone or security camera clips that could help investigators identify the vehicle and the occupants who fled the scene. Detectives say even a few seconds of video or a single time-stamped image can be enough to generate new leads.
How this fits in a larger pattern
"This is an ongoing investigation," the Oakland Police Department said in a release that also outlined a recent April series of armed robberies and the arrest of four juveniles linked to that spree. The shooting on 81st Avenue is one of several violent robberies reported in East Oakland this spring and has renewed police calls for community tips and video evidence. Investigators are continuing to canvass the neighborhood and are again asking anyone with information to contact the Robbery Unit.
