Two people were arrested and a firearm was recovered after gunfire near 88th Avenue and International Boulevard in Oakland's Webster neighborhood Wednesday morning. Oakland police said the shooting struck a victim's vehicle but caused no injuries. Officers responded around 11:30 a.m., and the incident led to a brief standoff involving police and federal agents.
The home involved in the standoff is next door to the Oakland Public Library's Elmhurst branch, according to CBS News. Video posted on the Citizen app showed vehicles and officers from multiple law enforcement agencies gathered in front of the home and library.
Federal Agents Cite Court-Authorized Operation
An FBI spokesperson said agents were carrying out court-authorized law enforcement activity at the home as part of an ongoing joint investigation with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The spokesperson provided no further details about the operation or its connection to the shooting.
Oakland police said officers arrested two unidentified suspects and recovered a firearm. Police asked anyone with information about the shooting to contact the felony assault unit at 510-238-3426. The department also posted that day about police activity in the 1800 block of 89th Avenue and media staging near 88th Avenue and Birch Street.
Crime Numbers Trending Down Citywide
The shooting comes as Oakland police have reported broad declines in violent crime through the first quarter of 2026. Per the same CBS News report, Part I crimes — the category covering the most serious offenses — fell 29% from January 1 through March 31 compared with the same stretch in 2025.
Homicides dropped from 23 to 14 over that period, a 39% decline, while aggravated assaults fell from 678 to 588, a 13% drop, the station's report states. Police did note a couple of exceptions to the overall downward trend, pointing to slight increases in residential robberies and in incidents involving weapons other than firearms or knives.
Library location and crime figures
The Oakland Public Library lists the Elmhurst Branch's public entrance at 1427 88th Avenue. The verified library information identifies the entrance but does not specify any incident-related changes to hours or access. The crime figures above do not include a separate shooting total. According to CBS San Francisco, Oakland's Part I category includes homicides, aggravated assaults, rape, robbery and burglary.
