Safety top of mind for BART riders after 15-year-old shot on Oakland train

OAKLAND, Calif. - A 15-year-old passenger on a BART train was injured in a shooting Tuesday night near Oakland's Fruitvale station, sparking safety fears and advocacy among riders and parents.

BART police believe the victim and suspected shooter knew each other.

The 15-year-old, who has not been publicly identified, is expected to survive, authorities said. 

What riders are saying

Local perspective:

For Oakland native Shakira More, she says her son takes BART to and from school each day.

"I'm really scared," she said. "People smoke on BART, drink and do drugs and the thought of gunshots. This is the second time in three years that there's actually been gunshots at this BART station."

More will often ride one stop ahead of her son on BART to ensure his safety. 

"I want not just my son, but other kids, to be safe too," she said.

More says when she visits San Francisco, she sees a lot more police patrols compared to Oakland.

"I want to feel secure here in my city," she said.

Another rider, Candace Crowhurst, rides BART every day from San Francisco. 

She said she normally feels safe taking public transportation, but would like there to be more resources available to facilitate mental health and emotional support among kids.

"I think there's a global issue with people feeling unsafe in general," Crowhurst said. "I don't think it's related to BART... I think with not enough support systems, not enough mental health [resources.]"

She'd like to see more trauma-informed officers who can de-escalate situations. 

Violence intervention and prevention

Sie Savage Chambers is an intervention specialist at Youth Alive in Alameda County. The organization offers mentorship and interventions for Bay Area kids.

"Immediately, our youth need support. Intervention services on both sides, whether that's the individuals that are victims and some of these individuals who are perpetrating the crime," Chambers said. "Ultimately, they're desperately in need of services."

He says it's important for all adults in the community to help provide opportunities for positive interactions and to lead by example.

"Some of these kids, you don't know what they've got going on at home, so I think even that adult presence and showing you care," Savage Chambers said.

For youth, Savage Chambers had advice for what to do when you face a difficult situation. 

"Just taking that one moment to stop and think, before reacting and just know there are other options and resources that are there to support you in that," Savage Chambers said. 

"I think people should keep in mind that anytime a young person is hurt, our hearts go out to them, but more than just their hearts, it's our actions," Joseph Griffin, the executive director of Youth Alive said. 

The non-profit's programs include violence prevention and intervention specialists who are working at schools and local hospitals. They help youth heal from trauma and try to prevent teens from resorting to violence or escalating conflicts.

Lauren Greenberg, a communications director at Youth Alive says adults in the community also have an important role. 

"We have to think about changing the conditions around what would make someone reach for a gun So for example...what was the person experiencing in the day that led up to them having this incident?" Greenberg said. "What does their school life look like? What does after school look like? Are there parks and safe spaces for them to spend time and recreate and develop themselves? What do we do to facilitate social bonds and familial bonds?" 

Authorities are looking for the suspect in Monday's shooting, but haven't shared a description or many details. 

The train where the shooting occurred was taken out of service, officials said. It was taken to another location as part of the investigation.