Lake Merritt shooting: Multiple people gunned down during Juneteenth celebrations in Oakland

Multiple people have been injured following a shooting at Juneteenth celebrations in Oakland, California, with police describing the incident as a possible 'mass casualty event'.

At least four people were taken to hospital with gunshot injuries, after the incident at Lake Merritt on Wednesday night, shortly before 9pm.

Violence erupted after a largely peaceful Juneteenth celebration that attracted around 5,000 people near the lake earlier in the evening. 

Oakland Fire Department spokesperson Michael Hunt said the number of people shot or injured could have grown since he was last updated, he advised at 10.24 pm, CBS News reports.

Police and fire officers were alerted at around 9pm after reported gunshots at Grand and Euclid Avenues, where a large crowd was found to have gathered at a sideshow event, which had not been sanctioned by public officials, police said.

Witness Tamia Robinson told ABC7 News: 'We were all celebrating, there were sideshows, couple of fights that were going on - next thing we know, we all thought we heard fireworks, so we ran from the direction. 

'Next thing you hear, another 'boom, boom, boom, boom, boom' from the other side of the lake. 

'We come down here, walking, and my sister sprints across the street, where she's seen one of her friends were laying out.'

Witness Tamira Robinson, from Richmond, told KTVU: 'I'm very disappointed. 

'It's a shame we can't even get together as a community and enjoy each other, celebrate each other. 

'Celebrate our ancestors without somebody being killed.' 

Footage posted online from journalist Jaden Shaul of KTVU shows the scene with a heavy police presence in the aftermath of the shooting.

Another video shared by @1SaltyDorito on X shows people dispersing from the scene.

Meanwhile on Instagram, user 28madi_ shared a video of a woman at first kneeling to the ground and then multiple gunshots ringing out as she flees from the area.

The condition of the four gunshot victims is unknown at this time.

A number of other injuries were also reported.

Paul Chambers, Oakland Police Department's strategic communications manager, told KTVU the event had been largely peaceful, with up to 5,000 people attending. 

It is understood 28 officers and four sergeants were there to monitor the activities. 

He said around 8.15pm, a sideshow involving 'motorbikes and vehicles' took place at Bellvue and Grand avenues, on the north side of the lake, and a fight broke out nearby. 

A crowd of 2,000 to 3,000 people had been watching the sideshow, San Jose Mercury reports. 

He said: 'During that fight multiple shots rang out,' placing the shooting at around 8.45pm.

Chambers said some officers were struck by the crowd as they attempted to move people to safety, with at least one being  taken into custody for assaulting an officer.

'We wanted to make sure people had a safe time, but unfortunately that did not happen,' he told San Jose Mercury.

Residents are asked to avoid the area of I-580 at Grand Avenue, while police investigations continue.

In a statement posted this morning by Oakland Police, a spokesperson said: 'The Oakland Police Department (OPD) is investigating a shooting with several victims. The incident occurred just after 8.45 pm on June 19, 2024, in the 400 block of Grand Avenue.

'The preliminary investigation revealed that 28 officers and four sergeants monitored crowds of roughly 5,000 people participating in events at and around Lake Merritt. 

'The crowds were peaceful until around 8.15 pm when an illegal sideshow involving vehicles and motorbikes occurred near Grand Avenue and Bellevue Avenue. 

'A short time later, a fight broke out, and as the crowd headed towards the altercation, multiple shots were fired. 

'Officers located several victims who were struck by the gunfire.

Medical personnel transported several victims to an area hospital. Additional victims were taken to various hospitals by private transportation. 

'At this time, there are no reports of fatalities, and the exact number of those injured is still under investigation. 

'No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting. 

'It is currently unknown if there was a single shooter or multiple shooters involved.

'Following the shootings, officers attempted to guide the crowd into a safe area. 

'During this effort, some individuals in the crowd punched and pushed officers, resulting in minor injuries.

 'One person was taken into custody for assaulting an officer.

'The events were not sanctioned gatherings.'

Juneteenth is a federal holiday that takes place on June 19 each year, marking the emancipation of slaves in the US and is referred to as America's Second Independence Day.

In 2021, President Joe Biden put pen to paper at the White House to make it a federally-recognized holiday to mark the emancipation of enslaved Americans 155 years earlier.