Oakland Councilmember Rowena Brown recovering after being attacked, robbed by acquaintance
Oakland Councilmember Rowena Brown recovering after being attacked, robbed by acquaintance
Oakland City Councilmember-at-Large Rowena Brown is recovering tonight after being attacked and robbed inside her downtown Oakland apartment.
OAKLAND, Calif. - Oakland Councilmember Rowena Brown is recovering after reportedly being attacked and robbed by an acquaintance.
Oakland councilmember attacked
What we know:
Brown’s office said in a Thursday statement that the councilmember was attacked on Saturday evening by the person who "she had been supporting through a difficult time."
The Oakland Police Department told KTVU that officers responded to the scene and "determined that the victim was assaulted by a known suspect."
Court documents show that police responded to a report of battery at Brown's downtown Oakland apartment at 12:42 a.m. on Sunday.
Brown – who was sworn in as Oakland’s At-Large City Councilmember in January 2025 – sought medical treatment after the reported assault, though the extent of her injuries were not clear. However, her office and Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee said she is recovering and focused on continuing to serve the community.
"I have been in touch with Councilmember Rowena Brown and she is well and recovering from her injuries as she continues to serve the residents of Oakland," Lee said in an Instagram post. "I want to thank her friends, family, and OPD for their support during this period and ask that her privacy be respected at this time."
The alleged attacker was arrested by the OPD on Tuesday in Livermore, and they were later identified as 38-year-old Ahshatae Millhouse of Hayward.
Alameda County jail records indicated Millhouse was being held in the Santa Rita Jail without bail on suspicion of robbery, assault and false imprisonment.
She has since been charged by the Alameda County District Attorney's Office.
Millhouse is alleged to have hit the councilmember-at-large with a closed fist at her apartment, dragged her by her hair, kneed and choked her in addition to taking her purse and two cell phones. This was all after Brown allegedly asked Millhouse to leave because of escalating behavior.
What they're saying:
Friends and those who know Brown said what happened is shocking.
Kev Choice, a popular musician and Oakland resident, said he's known Brown for about 10 years, first through her work behind the scenes with other elected leaders such as State Assemblymember Mia Bonta.
Choice describes Brown as a strong supporter of the arts. "[She's] always looking for creative ways to find funding for arts and culture," he said.
He said even recently, Brown will hopefully be able to push some of the money from the city's sale of its stake in the Coliseum to arts and culture.
"[I'm] always shocked when you hear something like this. Just hoping she's OK physically and mentally, and she can get back to doing the work that she loves to do," Choice said.
Former Oakland City Councilmember Loren Taylor describes Brown as a dedicated public servant who used to work for him as a constituent liaison.
"It was surprise. [A] shock whenever we have someone close to us impacted by violent crime," Taylor said.
What's next:
An investigation into the attack and robbery is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact the OPD at 510-238-3426.
The Source: Oakland City Councilmember Rowena Brown's office, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, Oakland Police Department, and Alameda County District Attorney's Office
KTVU's Henry Lee contributed to this story.