A 35-year-old woman was shot multiple times yesterday in West Oakland after what police describe as a dispute centered on an RV. She was taken to a hospital, treated and released the same day, and investigators say they are still searching for the suspected gunman.
According to The Mercury News, the shooting followed a deliberately set fire that destroyed an RV on Fifth Street near Kirkham Street. Authorities told reporters the man they believe owns the RV, and who they say set it on fire, later tracked the woman to another encampment a few blocks away and shot her at least twice in the arm, police said. The suspect remained at large as detectives canvassed nearby encampments and chased down tips.
Victim’s Account
The woman told a reporter she has lived at the encampment for about a year and said she was not sticking around after what happened. “I’m getting out of here,” she said, adding that she considers herself very lucky. She could have gotten shot anywhere else, according to The Mercury News. Police say she was treated and released from a hospital, and no arrests had been reported as investigators continued searching for the person they believe opened fire.
Encampments And Fire Risk
Fires involving RVs and makeshift structures have become a grimly familiar hazard in West Oakland, where previous coverage has documented dozens of large blazes that displaced residents and created serious risks for neighbors and first responders. The San Francisco Chronicle has reported that RV and encampment fires in the area often involve exploding propane cylinders and piles of combustible debris, making firefighting and public safety responses far more dangerous and chaotic.
Police Investigation
Oakland police asked anyone with information to contact the department’s Felony Assault Unit at (510) 238-3426 and to email photos or video to [email protected], according to the city’s police news releases. Investigators say the suspect and the victim knew each other and that the apparent dispute started after the RV was set on fire…