Crime

Oakland Police See Spike in Homicides

Published

5 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

Activism

Group Takes First Steps to Recall District Attorney Diana Becton

The group, called “Recall Diana Becton,” says they have lost faith in her prosecution decisions and her lack of transparency. On their social media post, they say: “We the victims of crime, their families, local business owners and employees, as well as residents of Contra Costa County, have reached our limit and are initiating the recall of District Attorney Diana Becton,” the notice states. “We are increasingly concerned about the persistent cycle of unaddressed criminal activity. We are frustrated by her continuous empty promises to victims and their families that justice will prevail while she permits criminals to roam free.” Becton, 73, is a former judge who was appointed district attorney in 2017 by the Board of Supervisors and then won election in 2018 and again in 2022.

Published

49 minutes ago

March 24, 2025

Oakland Post

Diana Becton has served at the Contra Costa County District Attorney since 2017. Richmond Standard photo.

By Post Staff

After gathering more than 100 verified signatures, a group led by crime victims delivered a ‘notice of intent’ to the offices of Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton seeking her recall.

The group, called “Recall Diana Becton,” says they have lost faith in her prosecution decisions and her lack of transparency.

On their social media post, they say:

“We the victims of crime, their families, local business owners and employees, as well as residents of Contra Costa County, have reached our limit and are initiating the recall of District Attorney Diana Becton,” the notice states.

“We are increasingly concerned about the persistent cycle of unaddressed criminal activity. We are frustrated by her continuous empty promises to victims and their families that justice will prevail while she permits criminals to roam free.”

Becton, 73, is a former judge who was appointed district attorney in 2017 by the Board of Supervisors and then won election in 2018 and again in 2022.

Becton has seven days to respond. According to the East Bay Times, her office spokesperson said her “answer will be her public comment.”

After Becton responds, according to the Contra Costa County Elections Office, Recall Diana Becton must then finalize the petition language and gather signatures of a minimum of 10% of registered voters (72,000) in 160 days before it can go on the ballot for election.

She is the third Bay Area district attorney whose constituents wanted them removed from office. San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin was removed from office in 2021 and last year, Pamela Price lost her position in a recall election.

Of the top 10 proponents of Becton’s recall, three are the families of Alexis Gabe, Thomas Arellano, and Damond Lazenby Jr.

In each of those cases, the families say Becton failed to pursue prosecution, allowed a plea deal instead of a trial in a slaying and questioned the coroner’s report in a fatal car crash.

Some political science experts suggest that, in the Bay Area there may be a bit of copycat syndrome going on.

In many states, recalls are not permitted at all, but in California, not only are they permitted but the ability to put one into motion is easy.

“Only 10% of registered voters in a district are needed just to start the process of getting the effort onto the ballot,” Garrick Percival, a political science professor told the East Bay Times. “It makes it easy to make the attempt.”

But according to their website, the Recall Diana Becton group express their loss of faith in the prosecutor.

“Her lack of transparency regarding crime in this county, and her attempts to keep her offenders out of jail have left us disheartened,” the recall group wrote.

Petitioners say they are acting not just for themselves but other crime victims “who feel ignored, exasperated and hopeless in their pursuit of justice for themselves or their loved ones.”

KRON TV, The East Bay Times, and Wikipedia are the sources for this report.