Crime

Oakland Police See Spike in Homicides

Published

6 years ago

July 9, 2020

Oakland, CA — The City has seen a recent spike in homicides, between June 24 to July 2nd, seven lives have been lost to violence.

The Oakland Police Department asks our community to join us as we voice a call to action to “Put the guns down”. As a community, we must come together to reduce violence and improve safety.

On July 2, 2020, at 4:58 PM, officers responded to a report of a shooting in the area of 72nd Avenue and International Boulevard. When officers arrived on scene they located an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds, the victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.

On July 1, 2020, at 7:34 PM, officers responded to the 2500 block of Embarcadero on a report of a shooting. When officers arrived on scene they located an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim was pronounced deceased at a local hospital.

On July 1, 2020, at 12:11 AM, officers responded to the to the 2500 block of International Boulevard on an alert from a ShotSpotter activation, regarding gunshots. When officers arrived on scene they located an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim was pronounced deceased on scene.

On June 29, 2020, at 2:54AM, officers responded to the 7700 block of Krause Avenue on a report of a stabbing. When officers arrived on scene they located an adult male suffering from fatal stab wounds. The victim was pronounced deceased on scene.

On June 28, 2020, at 2:08 PM, officers were dispatched to the 1200 block of 42nd Avenue to investigate a report of a fire. OPD officers and the Oakland Fire Department located several burned tents. Officers located a deceased female inside one of the burnt tents. On July 1, 2020, the Oakland Police Department’s Homicide Unit deemed this investigation a homicide.

On June 28, 2020, at 1:19 AM, officers responded to the 3500 block of Dimond Avenue on a report of a shooting. When officers arrived on scene they located an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim was pronounced deceased on scene.

On June 24, 2020, at about 2:05AM, officers were dispatched to the 9100 block of E St regarding a shooting. When officers arrived on scene they located an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim was pronounced deceased on scene.

The Department is seeing a sustained level of inner group and renewed conflicts with gangs and groups, generating gunfire not only at each other but also shootings at residential homes and cars. The Oakland Police Department Ceasefire Team, the Department of Violence Prevention and Community Partners continue to work towards reducing gun violence and improving public safety.

We ask our community to partner with the Department and the City to reduce violence by helping to provide information: “If you know something, say something.” If you were a witness or have information regarding a crime, you can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers of Oakland TIP LINE (510) 777-8572.

The Oakland Police Department’s Homicide Section (510) 238-3821.

We encourage our community to opt into our camera registry program https://www.oaklandca.gov/services/register-your-securitycamera?_ga=2.97709471.1425431140.1580770016-296443967.1572396264 Get involved in a community lead group, together we can all make a difference.

*ShotSpotter is an advanced system of sensors, algorithms and artificial intelligence that detects, locates and alerts police to gunshots in real-time. Once the analyst confirms the sound was gunfire, police are notified.

For more information, please contact the Media Relations Office at (510) 2387230 or opdmedia@oaklandca.gov or Visit Nixle.com to receive Oakland Police Department alerts, advisories and community messages, or follow OPD on Twitter, @oaklandpoliceca.

Officer Johnna Watson

Posts by Officer Johnna Watson

Black History

Oakland Observes Black August with Block Parties, Film Showings, Workshops

On Aug. 7, 1970, Jonathan Jackson burst into a Marin County courtroom armed with a shotgun to demand the freedom of the Soledad Brothers. He, along with the inmates he freed, was shot and killed while driving away. This involved one of the Black Panther Party’s most notable associates, Angela Davis, because the shotgun was registered in her name. She was later acquitted for charges of conspiracy, kidnapping, and murder in 1972.

Published

4 days ago

August 19, 2026

bpusa-syndication

By Jana Lang Post Youth Writer

Study. Train. Fast. Fight.

These are the four tenets of Black August, a month dedicated to commemorating the sacrifices of political prisoners and Black revolutionaries in the struggle for Black liberation.

Observers are urged to study the history of the Black struggle for freedom, train their bodies for health and self-defense, fast to cleanse the mind, body, and spirit, and fight ongoing oppression alongside their communities and local political organizations.

In Oakland, Black August celebrations are being held all month long. It has particular significance here because of the links between the Black Panthers’ organizing activities that highlighted both the social conditions and over-policing of the Black community, leading to the high incarceration rates and disproportionately long prison sentences.

Beginning in 1979 in San Quentin State Prison, the Black Guerrilla Family called for the remembrance of political prisoner George Jackson and his brother Jonathan Jackson, who were assassinated in the early 1970s. George Jackson was considered a political prisoner in that it was the anti-Black justice system that led to his incarceration for armed robbery with a sentence of one year-to-life in 1960.

While in prison, George befriended fellow prisoner W.L. Nolen, who introduced him to the works of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, Mao Zedong, and Frantz Fanon. This radicalization coupled with his experiences of violence while imprisoned led to him writing and publishing two books, “Soledad Brother” (1970), and “Blood in my Eye” (1972). In January of 1970, George and two other prisoners were charged with murdering a corrections officer at Soledad State Prison in Monterey County.

On Aug. 21, 1971, George Jackson was assassinated by a corrections officer after attempting to escape and free other inmates. As a result, there were uprisings and protests within prisons all over the country that year, calling forth resistance against racial oppression and mass incarceration.

Since its outset, Black August has evolved across the country, taking many forms to honor this history and embody the four tenets.

In Oakland, the upcoming Black August Experience, hosted by Youth Alive! and the East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA), is a free, family-friendly event celebrating the legacy of Black August. Activities include free food and drinks, a kids’ activity zone, interactive workshops, live cooking and boxing demonstrations, and more.

Happening on Aug. 21 from 4-8 p.m. at the EOBA Patio, Carolyn Flynn, director of administration at EOBA, said the event, in its second year, will be an opportunity to engage with people in person through food, shared space, and education.

“We do regular classes in education, and those are ongoing programs that we offer, but we wanted to have [an opportunity] for our neighbors to utilize this space.” Combined with Youth Alive’s work in community violence prevention and youth leadership, this event surely aims to bring the Oakland community together to capture what Black August means today.

Here are additional Black August events happening in Oakland:

Forum and Community Discussion hosted by the Oakland Liberation Center, 1499 Fruitvale Ave., Aug. 14, 7 p.m.

“George Jackson/San Quentin” Screening hosted by Nostalgic for Nothing Cinema at Moments Co-Op, 410 13th St., Aug. 16, doors at 6 p.m., show at 6:30 p.m. (Masks required and scent-free)

Commemorating the Struggle, Building the Altar for Liberation: Black August at Bandung Books, 2269 International Blvd., Aug. 23, 1-5 p.m.

Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), will host “Black August: The Arc of Liberation” at Oakland City Hall on Sat. Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

bpusa-syndication

Posts by bpusa-syndication

Black History

Oakland Observes Black August with Block Parties, Film Showings, Workshops

POST NEWS GROUP — Beginning in 1979 in San Quentin State Prison, the Black Guerrilla Family called for the remembrance of political prisoner George Jackson and his brother Jonathan Jackson who were assassinated in the early 1970s. George Jackson was considered a political prisoner in that it was the anti-Black justice system that led to his incarceration for armed robbery with a sentence of one year-to-life in 1960.

Published

1 week ago

August 15, 2026

bpusa-syndication

George Jackson wrote two books: “Soledad Brother,” and “Blood in My Eye” before her was killed in an attempt to escape prison on Aug. 21, 1971.

By Jana Lang, Propel Youth Reporter

Study. Train. Fast. Fight.

These are the four tenets of Black August, a month dedicated to commemorating the sacrifices of political prisoners and Black revolutionaries in the struggle for Black liberation.

Beginning in 1979 in San Quentin State Prison, the Black Guerrilla Family called for the remembrance of political prisoner George Jackson and his brother Jonathan Jackson who were assassinated in the early 1970s. George Jackson was considered a political prisoner in that it was the anti-Black justice system that led to his incarceration for armed robbery with a sentence of one year-to-life in 1960.

On Aug. 7, 1970, Jonathan Jackson burst into a Marin County courtroom armed with a shotgun to demand the freedom of the Soledad Brothers. He, along with the inmates he freed, was shot and killed while driving away. This involved one of the Black Panther Party’s most notable associates, Angela Davis, because the shotgun was registered in her name. She was later acquitted of charges of conspiracy, kidnapping, and murder in 1972.

Since its outset, Black August has evolved across the country, taking many forms to honor this history and embody the four tenets.

Here are additional Black August events happening in Oakland:

Forum and Community Discussion hosted by the Oakland Liberation Center, 1499 Fruitvale Ave., Aug. 14, 7 p.m.

“George Jackson/San Quentin” Screening hosted by Nostalgic for Nothing Cinema at Moments Co-Op, 410 13th St., Aug. 16, doors at 6 p.m., show at 6:30 p.m. (Masks required and scent-free)

Commemorating the Struggle, Building the Altar for Liberation: Black August at Bandung Books, 2269 International Blvd., Aug. 23rd, 1-5 p.m.

Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), will host “Black August: The Arc of Liberation” at Oakland City Hall on Sat. Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.