Deadly shooting outside Oakland courthouse as protests rage
A federal contract security officer was killed and another injured in a shooting outside the US courthouse in Oakland, the FBI said on Saturday.
A vehicle pulled up outside the Ronald V Dellums Federal Building at about 9:45pm on Friday and someone opened fire at the contract security officers who worked for the Federal Protective Service of the Department of Homeland Security, authorities said.
The identities of the officers were not released and there was no word on the condition of the wounded officer.
The officers protect federal court houses as part of their regular duties.
The shooting happened less than a half-mile from the Oakland police headquarters where demonstrators gathered to protest against the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota.
The protests in downtown Oakland began near city hall, gathering crowds that took over highways and moved toward a nearby police precinct. There, police formed a line, protecting the station, as demonstrators chanted “I can’t breathe” and “You are the virus.”
Jesse and Jessica Hurtado, a husband and wife dressed in Brown Beret fatigues, joined the protest in solidarity with black protesters. They had just been to another protest in San Jose. “They’re not just killing African Americans. They’re killing black and brown together,” said Jesse.
One man in the crowd stood atop the median as the remains of an American flag burned, while around him boomed flash grenades and fireworks.
The night remained largely peaceful, but tension mounted after dark. Authorities declared the assembly unlawful around 9.30pm. Moments later, they fired teargas into the crowd.
Small groups of protesters set fire to a downtown Oakland Walgreens, and sprayed office buildings with graffiti. Several car dealerships were vandalized, as well as a downtown Target.
