A 19-year-old Richmond man facing felony charges in connection with an alleged attempted car burglary was released from custody two days after his arrest. His release conditions barred him from driving and possessing guns while his case is pending.
The shooting happened a little before 3 a.m. on August 24 near Davis Street and 34th Avenue in Oakland, where a man allegedly fired into the suspects' car during an attempted car burglary, according to The Mercury News. Oakland police heard the gunfire and pursued the bullet-scarred vehicle through city streets, eventually stopping the white 2023 Toyota Camry near Broadway and Shore Line Drive in Alameda. Court records cited by the outlet show the car racked up at least 10 moving violations during the pursuit.
The driver reportedly ran off before officers could make an arrest, but the 19-year-old passenger was taken into custody. He told officers he had been trying to break into a car and panicked when someone shot at him, according to the same report. He also claimed the suspects had fired into the air during the incident.
Loaded Gun Found Along the Chase Route
Police also recovered a loaded firearm somewhere along the pursuit path and believe someone inside the fleeing Toyota tossed it out as officers closed in, per the Mercury News account. The Richmond man now faces felony charges of attempted burglary and attempted unlawful entry of a vehicle, along with a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest.
Oakland police heard gunfire and pursued the vehicle. The Oakland Police Commission unanimously voted in September 2025 to strip out a 50 mph speed cap that had been in place since 2022, allowing officers to pursue at any speed with supervisor approval when there is reasonable suspicion of a violent crime or a firearm involved, according to KTVU FOX 2. Chases that start in East Oakland often spill across municipal lines into Alameda via the bridges and tubes connecting the two cities, per The Oaklandside, which can force Oakland and Alameda police to coordinate quickly once a fleeing car heads toward the island.
Shooter Detained, Not Charged
The man who allegedly shot into the suspects' car was detained during the investigation but was not charged with a crime, court records show, per the Mercury News report. California law explains why: deadly force is legally limited to situations where someone reasonably fears imminent death or great bodily injury, and firing a weapon simply to protect property or stop fleeing suspects generally does not qualify as justified self-defense, according to the Shouse Law Group. Penal Code Section 198 concerns justifiable homicide, not defense of property.
The attempted burglary charges against the Richmond man rest on California Penal Code Sections 459 and 664, which require prosecutors to show a direct but uncompleted act toward entering a locked vehicle with intent to steal, according to Wallin & Klarich. Auto burglary is treated as a wobbler offense in California, meaning prosecutors have discretion to file it as either a felony or a misdemeanor. The resisting arrest count he also faces, under Penal Code Section 148(a)(1), carries a maximum of up to one year in county jail and fines up to $1,000, per Justia Law, and that statute applies broadly to conduct that hinders an officer's duties even without physical violence.
Released After Court Appearance, Barred From Driving or Guns
The 19-year-old was released from jail following an August 26 court appearance, just two days after his arrest. As conditions of release, he was ordered not to drive a car or possess guns while his case is pending.
How the court assesses pretrial release
The Alameda County Superior Court says its pretrial risk assessment system uses the Public Safety Assessment to estimate whether a person will return to court and remain arrest-free while awaiting trial. That general program information does not establish the basis for this defendant’s release or explain how his specific conditions were selected, according to the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda.
Those restrictions are not symbolic. California superior courts that grant non-monetary pretrial release retain the authority to impose strict conditions like driving or weapons bans, and violating them can trigger an immediate arrest warrant, according to The Nieves Law Firm. Pretrial release conditions can serve as an alternative to cash bail.
Part of a Broader Drop in Oakland Property Crime
Preliminary 2025 figures showed overall burglaries, including auto, residential and commercial break-ins, down 32% from the three-year average, and motor vehicle thefts down 41% from the three-year average.
Extra CHP patrols have taken place in Oakland. Oakland's pursuit policy has also changed.
