A Juneteenth celebration in Oakland ended in tragedy when multiple people were shot, with the entire incident caught on video. The festivities took place at Lake Merritt, a popular and centrally located spot in the city, but things took a violent turn on Wednesday evening.
The trouble began when a group of individuals started performing donuts in cars and on motorbikes at a major intersection. Initially, the scene was festive and lively, with onlookers enjoying the sideshow—a common activity in the Bay Area. The video from this period shows people laughing and having fun.
However, the situation quickly escalated. A fight broke out among the crowd, leading to an exchange of gunfire. Unknown gunmen fired multiple shots, injuring several people. The subsequent footage is chaotic, with bodies lying on the ground—some hit by bullets, others taking cover—as gunshots echoed through the intersection.
Bystanders can be seen rushing to help a person lying on the sidewalk. The Oakland Police Department confirmed that multiple people were shot but have not yet provided an exact number of victims or confirmed any fatalities.
🚨Last nights Juneteenth celebration in Oakland ends in a mass shooting bloodbath: pic.twitter.com/zVjjNeNr9Z
— Dapper Detective (@Dapper_Det) June 20, 2024
This incident is sadly reminiscent of another violent episode at a Juneteenth celebration at Lake Merritt in 2021, where a 22-year-old was killed and six others were injured.
The investigation into Wednesday night's shooting is ongoing. As the community grapples with this latest tragedy, questions about safety and security at public celebrations are once again at the forefront.