A 27-year-old Oakland man was found shot to death today on a grassy slope near Lake Merritt, a killing that left nearby residents on edge and once again put a spotlight on late-night safety along the popular lakeshore, police said.
Officers located the victim around 2:50 AM on the 1400 block of Lakeside Drive, where he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Oakland police. The discovery prompted a full homicide response in the area.
As reported by the East Bay Times, officers had been responding to several gunshot-detection alert notifications near the lake when they found the man, who police said was an Oakland resident. No arrests have been made, and investigators told the paper they are still working to determine why he was in the area and whether the shooting was targeted.
What the police say
Oakland Police Department homicide investigators have taken over the case and are asking anyone with information, video or photos to come forward. The City of Oakland lists the Homicide Section at (510) 238-3821 and an anonymous tip line at (510) 238-7950 for people with leads, according to city news releases.
Detectives say they will release additional details as the investigation continues and are urging residents who were in the area at the time to contact them, even if they believe what they saw or heard was minor.
Lake Merritt context
The lakefront has periodically become a flashpoint in debates over safety, crowds and nightlife, as local outlets have documented past shootings, sideshow activity and neighborhood complaints. Coverage of high-profile violent incidents near the water and the community friction that followed has included reporting on the Juneteenth shootout and by regional outlets such as the San Francisco Chronicle.
How to help
Anyone with information is asked to call the Oakland Police Department’s Homicide Section at (510) 238-3821 or use the anonymous tip line at (510) 238-7950. The city also asks that people with photos or videos from the area share them with investigators through the contacts provided by the Oakland Police Department.
