OAKLAND — A 25-year-old Stockton man apparently trying to evade gunfire late Thursday night in East Oakland was struck and killed by a moving vehicle and his death is being investigated as a homicide, authorities said.
The man’s name has not yet been released and police have not said what they believe he was doing in Oakland.
Authorities said the death is being investigated as a homicide because the causing factor of the man being hit by the vehicle was the shooting.
Police said the man was found in the roadway in the 4500 block of Fairfax Avenue about 11:06 p.m. Thursday by officers responding to a ShotSpotter alert.
The man had injuries consistent with being hit by a vehicle. He was taken to a hospital where he died at 11:44 p.m., authorities said.
Numerous shell casings were found in the area and authorities said it appears the man may have run into the street to escape the gunfire before he was hit by the vehicle. Police have not released any information about the driver of the vehicle who was also apparently trying to evade the gunfire.
Police are trying to determine if the man was the intended target of whoever was doing the shooting and what the motive was. No other gunshot victims were found and no arrests have been made.
The death is the 95th homicide investigated by Oakland police this year. Last year at this time police had investigated 70 homicides in the city. There were 109 homicides in Oakland last year.
Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $10,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of the shooter. Anyone with information may call police at 510-238-3821 or 510-238-7950 or Crime Stoppers at 510-777-8572.
