Alameda double shooting near Crown Beach
Two shot after latest Alameda 'beach takeover'
Two victims were shot and wounded during latest 'beach takeover' along Alameda's south shore.
ALAMEDA, Calif. - Alameda police are investigating a double shooting that occurred Thursday night near Crown Memorial State Beach after the latest "beach takeover" by young people that has aggravated city officials and residents.
Authorities received reports of gunfire at approximately 9 p.m. near the intersection of Park Street and Shoreline Drive. According to police, two victims were wounded in the incident and transported to local hospitals. Their current conditions have not been released.
Witness heard gunfire
What they're saying:
"I heard just rapid gunfire. I thought it was a car flipping over, but I just heard ‘pow-pow-pow,’ " a woman who lives nearby told KTVU. "I waited for a second, and that’s when I heard all the sirens and I knew something had happened. Sirens about 10 minutes, coming from everywhere."
The violence brought both Alameda and East Bay Regional park police to the scene. The park district has jurisdiction over Crown Beach.
Crowds of young people were there at the time of the shooting. Alameda police warned over a loudspeaker that this was an unlawful assembly and warned people to disperse or face arrest.
A KTVU camera caught dozens of young people, some agitated, milling about afterward.
Violence broke out during latest ‘beach takeover’
The backstory:
This is the latest but most serious incident in the aftermath of what Alameda police have called "beach takeovers," in which teenagers and young adults flock to the area.
At past beach takeovers, police have had to deal with underage drinking, fights, and incidents involving a Taser, pepper-spray, as well as fights at the shopping center - where some businesses have closed early. One assault was the result of dispute over a water-gun game.
Mayor weighs in
What they're saying:
"We are looking to hold responsible parties liable, and that means juveniles, and it could mean their parents, said Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, adding people are welcome to enjoy the beach - peacefully.
"To the young people out there, make smart decisions. Don't do dumb things. Don't be a follower, be a leader. Walk away when someone is suggesting something dumb," the mayor said.
"Alameda is a good city, got good people, but that beach takeover needs to be stopped. We might need to have more cops on the beat, watching," said the woman who heard the gunfire.
Matthew Lefkowitz, who moved to Alameda four months ago from San Francisco agreed, saying, "I'm against beach takeovers and I'm against violence on the beach, no good to people getting shot here in peaceful Alameda."
Henry Lee is a KTVU crime reporter. E-mail Henry at Henry.Lee@fox.com and follow him on X @henrykleeKTVU and www.facebook.com/henrykleefan
The Source: Alameda police, visual evidence